During a visit to the flood-stricken town of Paiporta in Valencia, Spain’s King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez were met with hostile crowds, mud-slinging, and cries of “murderer” and “shame.” The Valencia region, devastated by the recent DANA storm, has seen over 200 confirmed deaths and widespread destruction, sparking intense public frustration over perceived government shortcomings.
As the royal couple walked through Paiporta, one of the worst-hit areas, protesters hurled mud and objects at them. The tension intensified when Prime Minister Sánchez, also targeted, was quickly evacuated amid escalating anger. While trying to engage with residents, Queen Letizia, visibly moved, continued speaking with the crowd despite being hit with mud, even showing tears and empathy for their plight.
“I understand their anger and frustration,” King Felipe said later in a statement, addressing the deep grief and loss felt by residents. Queen Letizia expressed similar sentiments to the press, asking, “How can they not feel like this?”
Local officials, including Paiporta’s mayor and members of the Valencian parliament, acknowledged the criticism, stating that the visit may have come too soon and that the residents’ anger was justified. Many survivors have lost everything, with Paiporta alone reporting at least 62 deaths. Search and rescue efforts are ongoing as authorities attempt to locate missing individuals, combing through debris and mud-filled tunnels.
Prime Minister Sánchez, acknowledging the inadequacies of the initial response, deployed an additional 10,000 emergency personnel, calling it the largest peacetime mobilization in Spain’s history. However, the scale of the disaster has left many communities isolated and lacking basic supplies, fueling further resentment and cries for accountability.
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