During his visit to the flooded areas, King Felipe VI was contested by the crowd in Paiporta, one of the most affected towns on the outskirts of Valencia. In a climate of enormous tension, the king and queen Letizia, along with Prime Minister Sanchez and the president of the Region Mazon, were the target of mud slinging by exasperated citizens. Many shouted “murderers”, as documented by images on Spanish TV. After these events, the planned visit to Chiva was postponed for security reasons. Felipe and Letizia were expected by hundreds of people, but the authorities decided to postpone the meeting due to the violent protest.
Sanchez was hit in the back by an object thrown during the march. According to reports, the president’s escort activated the security protocol and took him to a safe place. During the protest, Pedro Sánchez’s car was attacked with shovels and kicks, causing the rear windows to break.
In the affected areas, an additional 5,000 soldiers have been mobilized, bringing the total to 7,500 members of the military involved in relief operations. In addition, 5,000 police and civil guard have been sent to support the ongoing operations. Despite the progress, 7,000 people are still without electricity, while many more are without drinking water.
Despite the tensions, King Felipe managed to interact with some citizens. He hugged two boys with shovels, known as mud angels, and was filmed live listening to their stories. An elderly woman also approached the king in tears, showing the human side of the tragedy.
The death toll from the floods has reached 217, with most of the fatalities occurring in the province of Valencia. An orange alert is currently in effect along the northern and southern coasts of the region. Hopes of finding survivors among the missing are diminishing with each passing day. Searches are concentrated in parking lots cut off by the mudslide; dozens of victims are feared to be trapped in vehicles.
“Be careful with the water you drink and the food you eat because it could be contaminated,” warns the Valencian Regional Health Department regarding post-flood health risks.
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