International
Angry Crowds Throw Mud At Spain’s King As He Visits Flood-Hit Valencia
Crowds gathered to express anger and frustration, shouting accusations of “murderer” and “shame” at the monarch, and questioning why no measures were taken to prevent the disaster.
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Spain is currently experiencing its worst flooding in decades, leaving entire neighbourhoods submerged in mud and debris, with wrecked vehicles scattered across communities. The disaster has claimed the lives of over 200 people, while many others remain missing. Rescue teams continue to search parking garages and tunnels, hoping to locate survivors and recover bodies.
The widespread devastation has sparked criticism over what many view as insufficient early warnings and inadequate support from local and national authorities. King Felipe, accompanied by Queen Letizia, travelled to Paiporta, one of the hardest-hit towns, in an effort to show solidarity.
Video footage captures the tense moment as the king walked down a pedestrian street, flanked by bodyguards and police who soon found themselves struggling to contain a surge of protesters. The crowd hurled insults and threw mud and other objects toward the king. Despite the hostility, Felipe paused to engage directly with several protesters, even embracing a few. Images show the king, queen, and their entourage covered in mud, with aides holding umbrellas over the monarch as they made their exit.
Additional security measures were later put in place, with civil guards and mounted officers working to disperse the crowd. This unrest follows mounting local anger over the government’s handling of the disaster response.
Valencian parliament member Juan Bordera criticized the timing of the royal visit, calling it “a very bad decision.” According to Bordera, “Authorities didn’t listen to any warnings.” He explained to the BBC, “It’s understandable that people are furious, and it’s hard for them to see why this visit was so urgent.”
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In response, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has ordered a deployment of 10,000 additional troops, police, and civil guards to the flood-stricken region—a move he called Spain’s largest peacetime deployment. Yet, Sánchez acknowledged that this effort “is still not enough” and admitted there were “severe problems and shortages” in the initial response.
The regional civil protection agency, which operates under the local government, sent out an emergency alert to residents in Valencia around 20:00 local time (19:00 GMT) on Tuesday, when floodwaters were already rising rapidly and causing significant damage across various areas.
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