International
Tens Of Thousands Protest In Valencia Over Deadly Floods, Demand Resignation Of Regional Leader
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in Valencia on Saturday evening to protest against the authorities’ handling of the recent deadly floods, calling for the resignation of regional leader Carlos Mazón.
Chanting “we are stained with mud, you are stained with blood,” demonstrators voiced their anger over the response to the floods, which claimed more than 200 lives in October. The devastating torrential rains also left 80 people still missing. Protesters have accused local authorities of issuing flood warnings far too late, exacerbating the disaster’s impact.
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As the protest escalated, clashes broke out between demonstrators and police. Pictures from the scene show Valencia City Hall covered in mud, while Reuters reports that protesters threw chairs and other objects in anger.
Valencia’s mayor, María José Catalá, shared images of broken windows and a video that appeared to show a fire being started, condemning the violence. “Vandalism is not the solution,” she said. The city council also condemned the actions, highlighting that Valencia itself was severely affected by the floods.
Anna Oliver, one of the protest organizers, told Reuters, “We want to show our indignation and anger over the poor management of this disaster which has affected so many people.”
The protests followed a similar incident last week when King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain were pelted with mud and other objects during a visit to Paiporta, one of the hardest-hit towns. Objects were also thrown at Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who was swiftly evacuated.
The floods have left thousands homeless, with many streets still covered in mud and debris.
Mazón, leader of the conservative Popular Party, has defended his actions, saying his officials did not receive enough early warning from the central government and that the scale of the disaster was unforeseen. In Spain, regional governments handle disaster response but can request additional resources from the central government.
Although Spain’s weather agency issued storm warnings for the region on October 25, Valencia’s local authorities did not send out mobile phone alerts until hours after the floods had started. The local councillor responsible for emergency management later admitted she was unaware of the system for sending such alerts.
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Media reports suggest that, as flooding began, Mazón was having lunch with a journalist and did not attend the emergency coordination meeting until 7:00 PM local time. Government sources, however, dismissed this as “irrelevant,” stating that Mazón was constantly updated on the situation.
The flooding was caused by a Dana phenomenon, which occurs when warm, moist air meets cold air, creating unstable weather conditions. Scientists have warned that climate change is intensifying the severity of such extreme weather events.
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