ALBAWABA - When Spanish King Felipe VI visited the flood-ravaged village of Paiporta, which is close to Valencia, on Sunday, he was met with vehement objections.
As the monarch, Queen Letizia, and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited the impacted region, angry residents who were dissatisfied with the government's handling of the recent tragedy threw dirt and yelled obscenities.
At least 217 people, mostly in Valencia, have died as a consequence of the disastrous floods that hit eastern and southern Spain earlier this week. The floods have flooded houses, streets, and carried away cars, destroying thousands of homes and leaving over 3,000 households without power. One of the worst-hit regions is Paiporta, where the village sustained significant devastation and over 60 persons lost their life.
The public's ire has grown over what many perceive to be insufficient and tardy government response. The emergency notice that was sent to mobile phones two hours after floods had begun to inundate the town was criticized by several Paiporta locals. Photos from the visit show the king's face covered in mud, and as emotions increased, police on horseback intervened to control the mob.
Protesters complained about what they saw as a lack of assistance and preparation for the visit. "They knew about it, they knew, and yet they did nothing," said a teenage demonstrator. Prime Minister Sánchez was finally removed from the situation, while bodyguards deployed umbrellas to protect the royal group from dirt thrown by the mob, according to RTVE.
Authorities have issued maximum warnings across Valencia due to the extreme weather, which has left portions of Spain's Mediterranean coast on high alert. The greatest rescue operation in recent history has included almost 2,500 Spanish troops, and rescue efforts are still underway.
