Spain Grapples with Aftermath of Devastating Floods
Furious Crowds Heckle and Hurl Mud at King and Prime Minister
Spanish rescuers plunged into inundated garages to find bodies on Monday, a day after furious crowds heckled and hurled mud at the king and the prime minister following devastating floods.
Death Toll Rises to 217, with Fears of More Bodies to be Found
The toll stands at 217 dead — almost all in the eastern Valencia region — and Spain dreaded the discovery of more corpses in its worst such disaster in decades.
Emergency Declared Over, but Red Alert Issued for Catalonia
National weather service AEMET announced the end of the emergency for Valencia but placed part of the northeastern Catalonia region on the highest red alert for torrential rain on Monday. Catalan trains were suspended until further notice, Transport Minister Oscar Puente announced on X, while flights were delayed and diverted at Barcelona’s El Prat airport.
Investigation Launched into Chaos in Paiporta
The Civil Guard has opened an investigation into the chaos in the ground-zero town of Paiporta that cut short their visit on Sunday, Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska told public broadcaster TVE. He blamed "marginal groups" for instigating the violence where mud spattered the monarchs’ face and clothes and broke a window of Sanchez’s car. Organising the visit was "a collective mistake" as fringe groups hijacked raw emotions to endanger the royals, Sanchez and Valencia region leader Carlos Mazon, Puente told television channel La Sexta on Sunday.
Growing Anger at Authorities’ Preparation and Response
The incident underscored growing anger at the authorities’ preparation for and response to the catastrophe. Experts have questioned the warning systems that failed to alert the population in time and the speed of the response.
"We Were Abandoned"
Thousands of soldiers, police officers, civil guards, and firefighters spent a sixth day distributing aid and clearing mud and debris to find bodies. But relief works only reached some towns days after the disaster and in many cases volunteers were the first to provide food, water, sanitation, and cleaning equipment. "We shouldn’t romanticise it: the people saved the people because we were abandoned," said Jorge, a resident of the town of Chiva where the royals cancelled their visit on Sunday. The applause should be for the volunteers, not "those who come just to take a picture and show off", the 25-year-old told AFP.
Search for Missing Bodies Continues
Divers on Monday concentrated their search for missing bodies in garages and a multi-storey car park in the town of Aldaia capable of holding thousands of vehicles. The storm caught many victims in their vehicles on roads and in underground spaces such as car parks, tunnels, and garages where rescue operations are particularly difficult.
Local Authorities Extend Travel Restrictions
Local authorities extended travel restrictions for another two days to facilitate the work of the emergency services, cancelled classes in Valencia, and urged citizens to work from home. Storms coming off the Mediterranean are common for the season. But scientists have warned human-induced climate change is increasing the ferocity, length, and frequency of extreme weather events. "Politicians haven’t acted on climate change, and now we’re paying the consequences of their inaction," environmental activist Emi, 21, told AFP in Chiva.
Conclusion
The Spanish government is facing criticism for its response to the devastating floods, with many questioning the effectiveness of its warning systems and emergency services. The country is also grappling with the aftermath of an extraordinary outburst of popular anger directed at the king and the prime minister, which has led to calls for greater accountability and transparency in government.
FAQs
- What is the current death toll from the floods in Spain?
217 - Which regions are most affected by the floods?
The eastern Valencia region and part of the northeastern Catalonia region - When did the prime minister and the king’s visit to Paiportta cut short?
Sunday - What is the reason for the blame of the violence, according to the interior minister?
Marginal groups - What is the current status of the warning systems and emergency services in Spain?
The national weather service AEMET has announced the end of the emergency in Valencia, but part of the northeastern Catalonia region is under the highest red alert, and there are concerns about the effectiveness of the warning systems and emergency services.