At least 220 people lost their lives in the floods at the end of October, and more are still missing after what is one of the worst natural disasters in Europe in decades.
– Murderers! shouted the protesters who on Saturday gathered in the center of Valencia demanding that the region’s head of government Carlos Mazon resign.
– Our hands are stained with clay, yours with blood, read one of the posters during the protest, which according to the government had around 130,000 participants.
Death in the orange grove
Some demonstrators clashed with riot police in front of Valencia City Hall, from where the demonstrators marched to the regional government’s headquarters. The police used batons against the demonstrators.
Among those who demonstrated on Saturday was Sara Sanchez Gurillo, who lost her brother-in-law, 62-year-old Candido Molina Pulgarin. His body was found in an orange grove after he was caught by the bodies of water at his home in Cheste, west of Valencia. Sanchez believes Mazon must resign, but she also directs harsh criticism at the country’s national leaders.
– It is shameful what has happened. They knew the sky was going to fall, and yet they warned no one. They did not evacuate the people. We want them to leave, says Sanchez.
She believes the government in Madrid should have taken action on the situation and sent in the army earlier.
Late help
Mazon is under massive pressure and accused of notifying the region’s residents far too late. Mazon, who belongs to the conservative PP party, has also been criticized for what people say is a slow and chaotic handling of the flood disaster. Thousands of volunteers first reached with help many of the hardest hit areas in the southern outskirts of Valencia.
Mazon told broadcaster A Punt earlier Saturday that a time will come when officials will be held accountable.
– Now is the time to continue cleaning our streets, help people and rebuild, said the regional president, adding that he respects the protesters.
Police and soldiers
It took several days before the Spanish authorities were able to mobilize thousands of police officers and soldiers for the relief work after the regional authorities had requested it. In Spain, it is the regional authorities’ task to deal with natural disasters, but they can ask the national authorities for additional resources.
The flood warning was not sent to the citizens’ mobile phones until 20:00 on 29 October, several hours after the floods were a fact in a number of villages and towns.
Red danger warning
Mazon has said he would have notified them earlier if he had known the seriousness of the situation. He claims that the scale could not be foreseen and that his government had not received sufficient warning from the central authorities.
But Spain’s weather agency Aemet issued a red danger warning – the highest level – of heavy rainfall as early as 7.30 on the morning of 29 October. In the days before, from 25 October, there had been a number of storm warnings from Aemet, which led to several institutions sounding the alarm much earlier than the regional authorities.
Royal visit
Mazon was with Spain’s prime minister and the royal couple when angry residents hurled mud at them as they visited one of the disaster areas last weekend. On Tuesday, King Felipe will visit the Valencia region again, his office said on Saturday.
On Saturday, the official death toll after the flood disaster stood at 220 dead, of which 212 in the Valencia region. Almost 80 people are still listed as missing and the search for victims continues.
Several thousand people lost their homes and streets are still covered in mud and debris, eleven days after massive rains sent rivers of mud into affected areas.
#demonstrate #disasterstricken #Valencia
**Interview with Sara Sanchez Gurillo: A Voice from the Valencia Flood Protests**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us, Sara. Your voice has been heard among the thousands protesting in Valencia. Can you start by sharing your personal experience related to this disaster?
**Sara Sanchez Gurillo:** Thank you for having me. The loss of my brother-in-law, Candido Molina Pulgarin, has been devastating for my family. His life was tragically cut short when he was swept away by the floods. His body was found in an orange grove, and that loss is something I’ll never be able to fully express. We are here not just for him but for all the victims.
**Interviewer:** The protests have been quite powerful, with significant accusations directed at regional and national officials. What are your main grievances?
**Sara Sanchez Gurillo:** It is shameful what has happened. The weather warnings were there; we all knew a disaster was coming, yet there was no proper evacuation or proactive measures taken. Our government failed us, and that includes both regional leaders like Carlos Mazon and national leaders in Madrid. They could have acted so much sooner—we needed immediate help, not this drawn-out response.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned the demand for Mazon’s resignation. What qualities do you think a leader should have in times of crisis like this?
**Sara Sanchez Gurillo:** A leader should prioritize the safety and well-being of their people above all else. They should act swiftly, provide adequate warnings, and ensure that proper preparations are in place. Instead, we saw delays and chaotic management, which cost lives. Accountability must be demanded.
**Interviewer:** Mazon has mentioned focusing on recovery efforts now. Do you believe this is the right approach?
**Sara Sanchez Gurillo:** Recovery is crucial, yes, but we cannot forget the accountability aspect. There needs to be an investigation into why the response was so inadequate. Cleaning up our streets is important, but addressing the systemic issues that led to this disaster is equally vital for preventing future tragedies.
**Interviewer:** The protests have seen a strong police presence. How do you feel about the police response to the demonstrations?
**Sara Sanchez Gurillo:** It’s heartbreaking to see peaceful protesters met with violence. We’re a community mourning our losses and demanding justice. Instead of dialogue, we faced rubber batons and resistance, which only fuels our anger. We need to work together for solutions, not divide ourselves further.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Sara, for sharing your thoughts and experiences with us. Your passion for justice and accountability resonates powerfully amid such tragedy.
**Sara Sanchez Gurillo:** Thank you for listening. It’s important we keep the conversation going for the sake of those we’ve lost and for the families still impacted by this disaster. We need change.
