During a visit to flood-stricken Valencia, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, and Regional Governor Carlos Mazon faced a hostile reception as residents in Paiporta threw mud and eggs at them.
Videos on social media show residents yelling at Sanchez, pelting his car with mud, hitting it, and even hurling brooms. One man was recorded breaking the vehicle’s left-side mirror before Sanchez quickly left the scene.
Despite the turmoil, King Felipe and Queen Letizia chose to stay, meeting with flood survivors face-to-face. In footage from the visit, a young man told the king, “It was known, and nobody did anything to avoid it.” Another video captures King Felipe, wearing a black coat, comforting a distressed citizen.
Many citizens have sharply criticized the government’s response, with some residents calling the measures “too little, too late.” The central government stated that alerting the public was the responsibility of local and regional authorities, while Valencia officials said they responded as best they could with the information available.
Sanchez announced Saturday that any potential negligence would be investigated.
Mazon, who was also booed and pelted with mud, posted on X, “I understand the public anger, and of course, I will stay to receive it. It is my political and moral obligation. The King’s attitude this morning has been exemplary.”
The death toll from Spain’s worst flash flood in modern history reached 217 on Sunday, with over 60 deaths reported in Paiporta alone. Thousands of military personnel and police have joined relief efforts, which have been hampered by continued bad weather as Valencia braces for more heavy rainfall Sunday night.