Spain: Angry Survivors Hurl Mud at King Felipe During Visit to Flood-Hit Paiporta
In the wake of Spain’s catastrophic floods, a visit by King Felipe and Queen Letizia to the devastated town of Paiporta, near Valencia, was met with anger from survivors. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez accompanied the royal couple to observe the damage, but tensions quickly escalated among grieving residents. According to reports from RTVE, Spain’s national broadcaster, Sanchez was eventually removed from the scene as the official group walked through the flood-ravaged streets.
More than 60 lives have been lost in Paiporta alone as the historic floods swept through the region. Residents, feeling neglected, hurled mud and insults at the King, with some shouting, “Get out!” and accusing authorities of inaction. One young man openly expressed frustration, accusing officials of knowing about the impending risk but failing to act. In the commotion, a young woman even struck a bodyguard with a pole. Despite the heated situation, images show King Felipe attempting to engage with the locals, his face visibly flecked with mud. He remained composed, comforting a resident who appeared to weep on his shoulder, and shook hands with another.
The disaster has claimed 217 lives across Spain, with the Valencia region hit hardest. The situation remains dire as dozens are still missing, and thousands of homes continue to lack electricity. Responding to the crisis, the Spanish government has mobilized thousands of troops and police, marking the largest peacetime disaster response in the country’s history. The floods have inundated streets, destroyed buildings, and left vehicles buried under mud, causing immense hardship for the affected communities.
With experts pointing to climate change as a driver of extreme weather events, Europe faces an increase in such catastrophes. This flood, Spain’s worst in over half a century, stands as the most deadly single-country flood disaster in Europe since 1967, when Portugal suffered similar devastation.
