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Residents erupted in anger as Queen Letizia and King Felipe VI visited Spain’s flood-ravaged town of Valencia.
The royals were greeted with heckles, mud, and shouts of “murderer” and “shame” on Sunday, November 3.
More than 200 lives were lost in the most devastating floods the country has seen in about three decades. The death toll is expected to rise as rescue and recovery operations continue.
Highlights
- Residents of Valencia threw mud and objects at King Felipe and Queen Letizia.
- There have been more than 200 flood fatalities, with numbers expected to rise.
- Locals criticized officials for late flood warnings, heightening tensions.
- “They left us to die. We’ve lost everything,” a local woman said about the devastation caused by the floods.
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Spanish residents expressed outrage during Queen Letizia and King Felipe VI’s visit to the flood-ravaged town
Image credits: Rober Solsona/Europa Press
Anger has been mounting in the country over what many saw as a delayed warning from officials.
Residents have questioned why alerts to stay indoors only came after floodwaters surged last week.
As King Felipe and Queen Letizia, 52, walked through the badly-hit town of Paiporta, protesters pelted them with mud and other objects, reflecting the community’s frustration.
The region is reeling from the worst floods in about three decades, which have claimed more than 200 lives
Image credits: Abaca Press / Vida Press
The 56-year-old Spanish King serves as the head of state but has no political power, much like his British counterpart, Prince Charles.
It is the elected government, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, that holds authority and governs the country’s daily affairs.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also had objects thrown at him during his visit and was quickly evacuated as the crowd grew hostile.
Shouts of “murderer” and “shame” were heard as the Spanish royals walked through the street
Image credits: Borja B. Hojas/Getty Images
“What were they expecting?” an outraged local was quoted as telling the newspaper El País. “People are very angry. Pedro Sánchez should have been here on day one with a shovel.”
Frustrated residents expressed their disappointment with authorities for leaving them “to die.”
“I’m just 16,” a tearful boy named Pau told the BBC. “We’re helping–and the leaders do nothing. People are still dying. I can’t stand this anymore.”
“They left us to die. We’ve lost everything,” a local woman said about the devastation caused by the floods
Tense scenes as locals throw mud towards Spain’s King Felipe as he visits flood-ravaged Paiporta, Valencia.
Security officials held up umbrellas for the for the royals and officials to project them from the flying objects, while the crowd yelled insults such as “murderers!”. pic.twitter.com/N7SRWpGfn4
— NoComment (@nocomment) November 3, 2024
“They left us to die,” another woman told the outlet. “We’ve lost everything: our businesses, our homes, our dreams.”
Mayors from affected municipalities like Aldaia also urged officials to do more to help.
“We’re very angry and we’re devastated,” said Aldaia’s mayor, Guillermo Luján. “We have a town in ruins. We need to start over and I’m begging for help. Please help us.”
“One has to understand the anger and frustration of many people given all that they have gone through,” King Felipe said after the visit
Stones and mud were thrown at the Spanish King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia and Prime Minister Sanchez During their visit to flood-hit Valencia,
Residents, angry at the authorities’ slow response to the disaster, threw mud and stones, shouting: “Get out!”, “Murderers!” pic.twitter.com/gRXySLEMUo
— Chay Bowes (@BowesChay) November 3, 2024
Hours after his visit, King Felipe seemed to address the situation in Paiporta in a video, speaking to officials.
“One has to understand the anger and frustration of many people given all that they have gone through, as well as the difficulty in understanding how all the mechanisms work when it comes to the emergency operations,” he said.
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What do you think ?
Petra Peitsch 1 month ago (edited)
While is true, that royalties have no real power in european countries (where they are still exist), but their lifestylw are still supported by the folks living there. So, when such an event is happening, they have two possibilities, if want to avoid being spit in the face: You go there at day 1, or you don't go there anytime.
Surly Scot 1 month ago
I'm from the UK, Royals don't show up on day 1 of any disaster, it takes time for their security to coordinate with local law enforcement and their presence would cause crowds and problems for emergency services trying to do their jobs. British people wouldn't pull this kind of disrespect, because we'd be happy and grateful the Royals could turn up and give public support instead of ignoring the problem the way the governments do. Looks here like the Spanish have just lost respect for everything, including themselves.
Load More Replies... Surly Scot 1 month ago
Spanish lashing out again at everyone except the actual people that could make the changes they desperately need. Riot on your politicians, not the royalty who have no political power or the tourists bringing their money to support the economy.
Aedonia Nightsong 1 month ago
People in the se comments don't understand the situation. I'm a Catalan living in Valencia We very obviously don't believe the royal family controls the weather or that they have any responsibility. It's about the cost of moving these people around when Valencia will need 350 million euros, at least, to reconstruct. They came here to take pictures not to help so they came for nothing when the Valencian government was telling us "avoid using the roads because emergency services need them more than you". Train lines were down, so they probably came by car and that means closing off roads that emergency services need. All in all this was a bad decision and that's the truth.
Petra Peitsch 1 month ago (edited)
While is true, that royalties have no real power in european countries (where they are still exist), but their lifestylw are still supported by the folks living there. So, when such an event is happening, they have two possibilities, if want to avoid being spit in the face: You go there at day 1, or you don't go there anytime.
Surly Scot 1 month ago
I'm from the UK, Royals don't show up on day 1 of any disaster, it takes time for their security to coordinate with local law enforcement and their presence would cause crowds and problems for emergency services trying to do their jobs. British people wouldn't pull this kind of disrespect, because we'd be happy and grateful the Royals could turn up and give public support instead of ignoring the problem the way the governments do. Looks here like the Spanish have just lost respect for everything, including themselves.
Load More Replies... Surly Scot 1 month ago
Spanish lashing out again at everyone except the actual people that could make the changes they desperately need. Riot on your politicians, not the royalty who have no political power or the tourists bringing their money to support the economy.
Aedonia Nightsong 1 month ago
People in the se comments don't understand the situation. I'm a Catalan living in Valencia We very obviously don't believe the royal family controls the weather or that they have any responsibility. It's about the cost of moving these people around when Valencia will need 350 million euros, at least, to reconstruct. They came here to take pictures not to help so they came for nothing when the Valencian government was telling us "avoid using the roads because emergency services need them more than you". Train lines were down, so they probably came by car and that means closing off roads that emergency services need. All in all this was a bad decision and that's the truth.
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