The King of Spain was mocked, pelted with mud and eggs by flood victims
Agency
04/11/2024 07:15 MYT
King Felipe VI (with an umbrella) is protected by security forces after he was pelted with mud and eggs while visiting flood victims in Paiporta, Valencia on Sunday. - Reuters photo
PAIPORTA, VALENCIA: Hundreds of residents here, taunted and threw mud and eggs at the King of Spain, King Felipe VI when he went to the field to inspect the flood victims.
Anger that could not be contained because aid was received so late that it claimed more than 200 lives caused residents to throw mud and eggs at King Felipe and Queen Letizia.
That's not enough, King Felipe also faced chants of "killer" when he visited the badly hit Paiporta, along with the Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez and regional Governor Carlos Mazon when local residents accused the authorities of failing to manage the worst natural disaster ever.
After they posed for pictures, the crowd started throwing insults at King Felipe, Mazon and Sanchez.
His Majesty also faced anger because he was allegedly "late to the field" after four days of the disaster.
The crowd also crowded close to the king when members of the security forces opened umbrellas to try and protect him from being raided.
When confronted by a resident, King Felipe remained calm and lowered his umbrella to listen as police struggled to control the crowd.
Queen Letizia also spoke to residents who had difficulty controlling their anger.
The royal office's social media team shared a video showing the king and queen hugging distraught residents and calming them down.
A man fell crying into the king's arms and in other footage, King Felipe was seen hugging two weeping women.
Facing the scorn and anger of the people up close was unusual for a King of Spain to face such great anger up close.
King Felipe is a popular figure and ascended the throne after his father abdicated.
The anger of the residents was actually aimed at Mazon and Sanchez, who left the location earlier despite King Felipe's insistence on staying at the disaster friend despite the chaos.
King Felipe VI heard the frustration of the residents who were also victims of the flood.
King Felipe VI heard the frustration of the residents who were also victims of the flood.
Sanchez's office in a statement released said the Prime Minister has been asked to leave the location based on security protocols.
In a statement shared on the platform, Mazon said he understood the people's anger and praised the king's "exemplary" behavior.
At least 214 people are now confirmed dead as a result of the floods and the toll may rise even higher. Among the latest victims is a 70-year-old woman whose body was found more than 12 kilometers from her home
The slow and disorganized response to the crisis angered Valencia.
In fact, the warning to prepare from the authorities via text was only sent a few hours after the flood warning was issued by the weather service.
On Saturday, Sanchez ordered 5,000 more troops to help rescue efforts in flooded areas and described the storm as the "worst natural disaster" in the county's history.
He addressed anger and frustration at the slow response by authorities, admitting it was "not enough."
Media reports, part of this disaster has been politicized.
Mazon and Sanchez are from different political parties and under the Spanish political system, the country's Federal government cannot release emergency funds and resources without the permission of a regional government.
However, that did not happen until Saturday, four days after the flood hit.
On Sunday, authorities called on residents to take shelter as the Spanish Weather Agency raised the weather warning in the coastal region of Valencia to the maximum red level following more rain expected.
A social media video posted by local residents shows a police vehicle passing through the Aldaia road in eastern Spain telling residents over loudspeakers to go home and avoid the area next to the gorge. - Agency
