The Kings, Sánchez and Mazón, shouted at with “murderers” during their visit to Paiporta
Felipe VI and Letizia continue to speak with those affected amid high tension. Among the indignant neighbours, several ultras stir up anger against the authorities, especially the president.
Members of the mounted police intervene during the altercations that took place this Sunday in Paiporta
Tensions in Valencian towns after five days of clamoring for help to deal with the devastating consequences of the cold snap boiled over on Sunday in all its crudeness and with the highest authorities of the State as the target. Hundreds of people have insulted the King and Queen, shouted “murderers” and even threw mud and blunt objects at the King and Queen, the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, and the President of the Generalitat Valenciana, Carlos Mazón, during their visit to Paiporta, the epicentre of the catastrophe
The indignation of the residents of Paiporta during the visit of the Kings, Sánchez and Mazón
Hundreds of people have heckled the King and Queen, the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, and the President of the Valencian Generalitat, Carlos Mazón, during their visit to the town of Paiporta. They have thrown mud at them, they have insulted them, especially Sánchez, and the King has tried to calm things down by talking to some of the residents.
Aldaia and the paradoxes of the Valencian tragedy: storms without rain and urban ravines
The flooding of the gullies and streams after the flood devastated dozens of municipalities where there was hardly any rainfall. The death toll has already risen to 210 and there are hundreds of missing.
It wasn't raining and then suddenly it started raining. Or so it seemed to those who heard the threatening roar of the water on Tuesday night in Aldaia, a town south of Valencia devastated by the cold snap despite the fact that it had not recorded any rainfall. The residents looked up at the sky without finding any news of the storm. Only later did they look down at the ground, where a wave of fresh water that had been picked up by the furious storm inland was advancing and growing in height and width until it became unbeatable.
Crowd throws mud at King Felipe VI and Prime Minister Sanchez
Angry crowds of flood survivors in Spain threw mud and shouted insults at Spain's King Felipe VI and government officials during their first visit to one of the worst-hit cities in the Valencia region.
The monarch was accompanied by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and the head of the Valencia region, Carlos Mazon. Despite the tense situation, the king decided to talk to locals in Paiporta, a suburb of Valencia that has been suffering from the devastating effects of the floods.
The police had to intervene in the situation to contain the crowd of several dozen people.
More than 200 people were killed in flooding on Tuesday, with thousands of homes destroyed by the onslaught of water and mud.
The Spanish monarch's visit to another disaster-stricken city was cancelled, but Philip VI, despite the attack, remained in Paiport for a while to listen to the locals.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, along with King Felipe and Queen Letizia, visited flood-hit Valencia. Spain's Sanchez described the violence as 'marginal' and commended the solidarity and resilience of the citizens.
Death toll in Valencia region rises to 217 as search operation continues
Spanish authorities have sent additional aid to the Valencia region, where a search operation is underway after devastating flooding that took the death toll to 217 on Sunday, with dozens of people still missing.
Around 4,000 troops have arrived from Madrid and other parts of Spain to help rescuers search for missing people and pump water and mud out of underground car parks in the Valencia region.
«Some people saw people going in and then not coming back. At the moment, we don't know much. Until we see what's inside, it's impossible to say what exactly happened there. The water came in with such force that it dragged everything inside, to the second floor below,» said Madrid firefighter José María González, who is taking part in the search and rescue operation.
Three more bodies were found on Sunday, bringing the flood death toll to 217. Most of the deaths were in eastern Valencia, where witnesses described the flood as tsunami-like.
Hundreds of volunteers are helping rescuers clear roads and streets.
More heavy rain is expected in the region. Authorities have issued a weather warning, recommending residents stay home and avoid driving.
The Spanish government and local authorities have come under fire for failing to warn people in time about the potential danger.
The alert sent out Tuesday evening came too late as water levels had already risen sharply in many areas.