More heavy rain fell on the Valencia region after King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez were forced to leave Paiporta where more than 70 people died in floods last Tuesday.
Mud hit the monarchs in the face and clothes as they tried to calm the angry crowd in scenes that underscored the fury over the response to the disaster that has now killed at least 217 people with many more still missing.
The king and queen went to a crisis centre in Paiporta. But extra security guards soon had to keep the angry crowd, shouting "murders", away from the royals and prime minister. They put up umbrellas to stop mud hitting the royal couple.
The king said later that Spain had to "understand the anger and frustration" of people affected by the devastation to towns where cars have been left in muddy heaps in streets.
In a social media video, the king called on the public to give the victims "hope and their guarantee that the state in its entirety is present".
Most of the fury seemed directed at Prime Minister Sanchez and Valencia regional government head Carlos Mazon.
"I understand the social anger and of course, I'm here to receive it. This is my political and moral obligation," Mazon said in a post on X.
The rear window of Sanchez's car was broken before he and the local politicians quickly left. The socialist leader said that while he empathised with the "anguish and suffering" of the victims, he condemned "all forms of violence".
Spanish media later reported of the possible involvement of far-right groups during the incident. Sanchez's deputy Maria Jesus Montero reacted to the allegations on X, saying "We will not allow radical groups to profit from people's pain."
Spain's meteorological agency issued a "red alert" for new storms in the Valencia region on Sunday and heavy rain started falling in the night.
Police using megaphones urged Valencia residents to stay in their homes. While the alert was later downgraded, schools in Valencia were to remain closed Monday.
- 'Towns buried by mud' -
Authorities have come under fire over the lack of warnings before the floods and the slow reaction after.
"I am aware the response is not enough, there are problems and severe shortages ... towns buried by mud, desperate people searching for their relatives ... we have to improve," Sanchez said.
With an extra 10,000 troops, police and civil guards sent to the Valencia region, Spain has now ordered its largest peacetime military and security force deployment, Sanchez said.
"Thank you to the people who have come to help us, to all of them, because from the authorities: nothing," a furious Estrella Caceres, 66, told AFP in the town of Sedavi.
In Chiva, restaurant owner Danna Daniella said she was still in shock, haunted by memories of people trapped by the raging floods "asking for help and there was nothing we could do".
"It drives you crazy. You look for answers and you don't find them."
- Volunteers out in droves -
Transport Minister Oscar Puente told El Pais daily that certain places would probably remain inaccessible by land for weeks.
An army of volunteers with food, water and cleaning equipment have played a key role in the recovery, though authorities have urged people to stay home to avoid congestion.
On Sunday, the Valencia government limited the number of volunteers authorised to travel to the city's southern suburbs to 2,000 and restricted access to 12 localities.
Despite this thousands made their way to stricken communes on foot, carrying brooms and shovels.
Storms coming off the Mediterranean are common this time of year. But scientists have warned that climate change is increasing the ferocity, length and frequency of extreme weather events.
Emergency services on Sunday listed 213 dead in the Valencia region, one in Andalusia in the south and three in Castilla-La Mancha neighbouring Valencia.
Authorities have warned the toll could rise as vehicles trapped in tunnels and underground car parks are cleared.
Outraged Spanish town tells king flood deaths were 'murders'
Paiporta, Spain (AFP) Nov 3, 2024 -
Residents of Paiporta, the worst-hit town in Spain's devastating floods, unleashed their anger at King Felipe VI on Sunday, shouting the question underscoring their heartbreak: "How many have died?"
Torrential rains on Tuesday caused Spain's worst disaster in decades with at least 217 dead and uncertainty over how many remain missing and that has unleashed anger over the warnings and the government response.
The king, Queen Letizia and politicians visiting the Valencia region town of 25,000 people were met with jeers, shouts of "murderers!" and mudslinging.
The crowd had their sights set on Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Valencia regional government head Carlos Mazon, a figure from the right-wing Popular Party (PP).
For residents of Paiporta, where officals say over 70 people died and an unknown number are missing, the leaders' first official visit five days after the devastation struck was too late.
As the official motorcade arrived in the streets still filled with mud and debris, hundreds of people rushed to the black vehicles, with one person shouting abuse at the prime minister.
Sanchez and Mazon were whisked away by worried security guards, while the monarchs pressed on into the crowd as overwhelmed police officers tried to protect them.
- 'Aren't you ashamed?' -
"These aren't deaths, they're murders," some young people shouted, while another man in tears told the royal couple to get out of the town.
Tensions mounted, as Felipe, jacket, face and hair smudged with mud, tried taking a few more steps forward.
"If you had come on the first day and put on your boots, the people would have supported you," said one young man in a yellow jacket. "There are dead people over there!" he added.
Letizia, forehead and nose also grazed by mud, listened to a young girl nearby as a man shouted: "There are dead children, aren't you ashamed?"
After leaving Paiporta, King Felipe said the country had to "understand the anger and frustration" of people in the disaster zone.
In a social media video, the king called on the public to give the victims "hope and their guarantee that the state in its entirety is present".
Despite the arrival of emergency services and police, residents of this southern suburb of Valencia feel forgotten.
They also accuse authorities of failing to issue the severe weather warnings early enough.
"Where is Pedro Sanchez, where is he?" people chanted as the prime minister left the scene.
- 'You'll forget us' -
After walking along part of one of the town's avenues that has been turned into a graveyard of rubble, entangled cars and heaps of mud, the monarchs attempted to return to their vehicles.
They paused, under the watch of their nervous security team, talking to more residents before finally leaving the community to its struggle.
"They've all come here to protect the king and won't let through those who really came to protect the streets," Adrian Garcia said, unable to forget the events of Tuesday night.
"I saw a footbridge break. We had to save an elderly woman, the police and myself," he added, his voice trembling.
The restaurant he worked at was destroyed, and rebuilding will likely take months.
"In a week's time, you'll forget all about us," he lamented.
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