Newsis
In Spain, where a catastrophic flood disaster occurred, the king and queen faced the wrath of flood victims who insulted and threw mud at them during their visit to the affected area.
According to reports from AFP and EFE, on Sunday, King Felipe VI visited Paiporta in Valencia, where at least 62 people passed away due to the flooding. He was accompanied by Queen Letizia, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, and Valencia Governor Carlos Mazón.
Enraged residents surrounded Felipe VI and Sánchez as they walked through the devastated area, throwing mud and debris while shouting insults such as “murderers,” “shame,” and “get out.”
An online video showed a young man shouting at the king, “The government’s response to this disaster is disgraceful.”
Despite security personnel quickly shielding them with umbrellas, Felipe VI and Queen Letizia could not avoid the humiliation of getting mud on their faces and clothes.
Felipe VI appeared to stay longer than his entourage, attempting to comfort the residents. However, reports from AFP indicated that he cut the visit short and canceled plans to visit other flood-affected areas after Paiporta.
The Spanish royal family is known for being very concerned about their public image, and incidents of objects being thrown at the king or insults directed at him are extremely rare.
Spanish broadcaster RTVE reported that among the objects thrown by the crowd were stones and other hard items, injuring two security personnel who required medical treatment. Additionally, reports indicated that the window of Prime Minister Sánchez’s vehicle was shattered.
Felipe VI later expressed on social media that he understands the anger and frustration of the affected residents, stating, “We must provide hope and assurance to the those affected by the flood, guaranteeing that the state is there for them.”
Residents’ anger towards the king and the government stems from their belief that the government’s inadequate response contributed to the disaster.
As of November 3rd, at least 217 people have died due to the torrential rain that struck Spain on October 29th. Dozens of people still remain unaccounted for, and around 3,000 households are still experiencing power outages.
Criticism towards the authorities has intensified due to their slow response, which is believed to have contributed to the rising death toll. After the Spanish Meteorological Agency issued a red alert for heavy rain, emergency disaster safety messages took more than 10 hours to reach local residents. Moreover, the subsequent search and recovery operations have also faced significant delays.
The Guardian reported that this is Spain’s worst flooding since the torrential rains in 1973 that claimed at least 150 lives.
