The anger of the communities affected by the flood caused by the Dana, which devastated the Spanish region of Valencia in particular, has exploded. Hundreds of people protested as King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, and regional governor Carlos Mazón visited the battered town of Paiporta. Shouting “Murderers, murderers!” mud and shovels were thrown at them. The Civil Guard, together with police officers, improvised a security cordon to contain the agitated crowd. Sanchez was hurried away in a convoy of cars, one of which had the rear window destroyed by those present. The king, covered in mud, tried to calm things down by talking to the protesters and trying to understand the reasons of those who blamed the authorities for the delay in aid. Letizia also hugged and conversed with some present, before bursting into tears. That’s when one of the protesters approached her, consoling her: “It’s not your fault, ma’am.” But the tension remained such that the royals decided to suspend their visit and postpone another, initially scheduled for Chiva. The governor of the Valencia region, Carlos Mazón, was unmoved and wrote in a post on social media: “I understand the social indignation and obviously I remain to receive it. It is my political and moral obligation. The King’s attitude this morning was exemplary”. Mazon then saw Sanchez again at the meeting of Cecopi, the Integrated Operational Coordination Centre, at the end of which the prime minister said: “I would like to express our solidarity and recognition of the anguish, suffering and need for certainties of many residents of Paiporta and the rest of Valencia but we reject any type of violence like the one we saw today.” He then reiterated: “The main objective is to save lives, recover the bodies of those who may have died in this tragedy and try to rebuild.”
<img src="https://img.iltempo.it/images/2024/11/03/090712066-17a87a3d-803d-4f9b-90ce-ed24e9f1ddac.jpg" class="lazy" alt="In Spain we search in the mud but in Valencia the fear returns: Strong storms” bad-src=”https://www.iltempo.it/assets/images/placeholder_iltempo.png”/>
Meanwhile, the search for the missing continued in the areas still invaded by mud, especially underground ones such as car parks, compared by rescuers to “cemeteries”. The provisional death toll has risen to 217, while further rain is expected in southern Spain. The Spanish State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) has issued a red alert for the south coast of Valencia where heavy rain is expected again.
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**Interview with Maria Lopez, Valencia Resident and Community Activist**
**Interviewer:** Maria, thank you for joining us. As someone living in Valencia, can you share your experience with the recent floods and the community’s reaction?
**Maria Lopez:** Thank you for having me. The floods have been devastating for us here in Valencia. Many homes are damaged, and people have lost everything. The anger in our community is palpable. We feel abandoned and neglected by the authorities.
**Interviewer:** We’ve seen images of protests against King Felipe VI and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez during their visit to Paiporta. What prompted such a strong reaction from the community?
**Maria Lopez:** When the royal family and government officials came to visit, it felt like too little, too late. Many of us were still struggling to salvage our homes. We shouted because we want them to understand our pain and frustration. The delays in aid and support from the government made us feel like our cries for help were unheard.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned the delays in aid. How has that impacted the recovery efforts in your area?
**Maria Lopez:** The delays have been catastrophic. People need immediate assistance with cleanup and rebuilding, but instead, we’ve faced bureaucracy and inaction. We saw homes submerged and lives turned upside down, and many are still waiting for the necessary help to start rebuilding.
**Interviewer:** During the protests, we saw both King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia visibly emotional. Did that have any impact on the crowd’s response?
**Maria Lopez:** It was surprising to see them trying to engage with us. Queen Letizia’s tears showed she felt our pain, and that human connection is important. Some people even comforted her, saying it wasn’t her fault. But the anger was rooted in inaction, and while their presence was acknowledged, it didn’t change the immediate issues we are facing.
**Interviewer:** What are you hoping for in terms of support and action from the government moving forward?
**Maria Lopez:** We need immediate action, not just words. People here are suffering, and we need swift and effective recovery plans. It’s not just about addressing the damages now but also about ensuring better preparedness for future disasters. We need our voices heard and genuine commitment from our leaders to make meaningful changes.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Maria. Your insights shed light on a critical situation, and we hope for swift support for your community.
**Maria Lopez:** Thank you for giving us a platform to share our story. It’s crucial for the voices of the affected to be heard.
