In Valencia, a significant turnout of protesters has taken to the streets to express their discontent with the authorities’ management of the recent deadly floods, calling for the resignation of regional leader Carlos Mazón.
Reports from Spanish media, including the news agency EFE, indicate that a government source has confirmed that 130,000 individuals participated in the demonstrations on Saturday, where protesters were heard chanting, “We are stained with mud, you are stained with blood.”
In October, torrential rain struck Valencia and surrounding provinces, resulting in the tragic loss of over 200 lives due to the ensuing flooding. As of now, eighty individuals remain unaccounted for.
Local authorities are facing accusations from protesters regarding the timing of flood warnings, which they claim were issued far too late.
Protesters expressing their anger engaged in confrontations with law enforcement as the demonstrations drew to a close.
Images depict Valencia City Hall covered in mud, as reports from the Reuters news agency indicate that protesters have been hurling chairs and objects.
María José Catalá, the city’s mayor, took to social media to share images of shattered windows alongside a video depicting a fire being ignited. She emphasized, “Vandalism is not the solution.”
Valencia City Council has condemned what it describes as “vandalism,” highlighting that the city has also suffered from the recent floods.
Anna Oliver, a key figure among the protest organizers, expressed to Reuters, “We aim to demonstrate our outrage and frustration regarding the inadequate handling of this disaster that has impacted countless individuals.”
During a recent visit to Paiporta, a town significantly impacted by ongoing issues, the king and queen of Spain faced a hostile reception as they were targeted with mud and various objects by demonstrators expressing their anger.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez faced a tumultuous situation as objects were hurled in his direction, prompting a swift evacuation.
In the wake of recent events, thousands have been displaced from their homes, with numerous streets across various regions still buried under mud and debris.
Mazón, representing the conservative Popular Party, has stood by his actions amidst ongoing scrutiny. He stated that his officials were not adequately alerted by the central government, and the magnitude of the disaster was beyond what could have been anticipated.
In Spain, the responsibility for disaster response lies with regional governments, which have the authority to request additional resources from the central government based in Madrid.
Spain’s weather agency issued storm warnings for the region starting on 25 October. However, Valencian authorities delayed sending alerts to local mobile phones until hours after the flooding began.
The local councilor responsible for emergencies has acknowledged her need for more awareness regarding the existence of a system designed for sending phone alerts.
According to local media, Mazón had lunch with a journalist as the flooding began and did not attend an emergency coordination meeting until 19:00 local time (18:00 GMT).
According to government sources cited by El País, the matter was deemed “irrelevant,” with assurances that Mazón was consistently informed of developments.
The recent flooding in Valencia has been attributed to a Dana phenomenon. This meteorological event occurs when warm, moist air interacts with cold air, resulting in an unstable weather system.
Experts indicate that the rising temperatures associated with climate change have exacerbated the severity of the floods.
