At least 51 people have died in Spain from devastating flash floods, authorities say
Associated PressOCT 20 2024
Public tension rose this weekend after Spain's King Felipe and Queen Letizia, alongside Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Valencia's regional governor Carlos Mazón, visited one of the worst-hit regions in the country's recent flooding that killed over 205 people.
Crowds in the town of Paiporta — where over 60 died from the floods — shouted "Killers!" and "Get out!" as the leaders carried out their visit. Others hurled clots of mud and other objects, including rocks, with two bodyguards reportedly injured.
Sánchez and Mazón were forced to seek protection and were quickly whisked away by their security details. Meanwhile, the king and queen insisted on staying and could be seen engaging with and embracing several residents.
The people are rightfully angry with their government, and their fury was likely not intended to hurt the king and queen, who play no official governing role. While the royal couple may have some mud on their faces, the public saw them comforting the flood victims while their actual government leaders were busy playing blame games.
Make no mistake, the public's anger was directed at both the Prime Minister and the royal couple. This visit came a full four days after Valencia was destroyed by the floods, and while villages were still waiting for authorities to show up and help, they saw a team of officers appear solely for the protection of the monarch and politicians.