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Spain's king and queen pelted with mud in flood-hit Valencia | Spain's king and queen pelted with mud in flood-hit Valencia |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Video shows angry crowd throwing objects at the King of Spain | Video shows angry crowd throwing objects at the King of Spain |
The king and queen of Spain have been pelted with mud and other objects by angry protesters during a visit to flood-hit Valencia. | |
Shouts of "murderer" and "shame" were directed at the royal couple as they walked through the town of Paiporta - one of the worst-affected in the region. | |
Objects were also thrown at Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who was quickly evacuated. | |
More than 200 people were killed in the floods, the worst in Spain for decades. Emergency workers are continuing to comb through underground car parks and tunnels in the hope of finding survivors and recovering bodies. | More than 200 people were killed in the floods, the worst in Spain for decades. Emergency workers are continuing to comb through underground car parks and tunnels in the hope of finding survivors and recovering bodies. |
There has been anger at a perceived lack of warning and insufficient support from authorities after the floods. | There has been anger at a perceived lack of warning and insufficient support from authorities after the floods. |
Footage showed King Felipe VI making his way down a pedestrian street, before his bodyguards and police were suddenly overwhelmed by a surge of protesters, hurling insults and screaming. | |
King Felipe was heckled by angry residents during the visit to Paiporta | King Felipe was heckled by angry residents during the visit to Paiporta |
They struggled to maintain a protective ring around the monarch, as some of the protesters threw mud and objects. | They struggled to maintain a protective ring around the monarch, as some of the protesters threw mud and objects. |
The king engaged with several, even embracing them. | The king engaged with several, even embracing them. |
Images showed mud on the faces and clothes of the king, Queen Letizia and their entourage, who held umbrellas over the monarch as they departed. | |
Queen Letizia in tears on visit to flood-hit Valencia | Queen Letizia in tears on visit to flood-hit Valencia |
Prime Minister Sánchez and the head of Valencian regional government, Carlos Mazón, joined the royal couple on the visit, but were swiftly evacuated as the crowd grew increasingly hostile. | |
Spanish media reports that objects were hurled at Sánchez, while footage verified by the BBC appears to show stones being thrown at his car as he was driven away. | Spanish media reports that objects were hurled at Sánchez, while footage verified by the BBC appears to show stones being thrown at his car as he was driven away. |
After he left, the crowd chanted: "Where is Sánchez?" | After he left, the crowd chanted: "Where is Sánchez?" |
“I’m just 16,” one boy, Pau, told the BBC through tears. “We’re helping – and the leaders do nothing. People are still dying. I can’t stand this anymore.” | “I’m just 16,” one boy, Pau, told the BBC through tears. “We’re helping – and the leaders do nothing. People are still dying. I can’t stand this anymore.” |
Another woman said: “They left us to die. We’ve lost everything: our businesses, our homes, our dreams.” | Another woman said: “They left us to die. We’ve lost everything: our businesses, our homes, our dreams.” |
The civil guard and mounted officers were later seen attempting to disperse the angry crowd. | The civil guard and mounted officers were later seen attempting to disperse the angry crowd. |
The royal entourage had intended to travel on to Chiva, another town in the Valencia province badly impacted by the flooding, but that visit has since been postponed. | The royal entourage had intended to travel on to Chiva, another town in the Valencia province badly impacted by the flooding, but that visit has since been postponed. |
The king later said he understood the "anger and frustration" of the protestors in a video posted on the royal household's Instagram account. | The king later said he understood the "anger and frustration" of the protestors in a video posted on the royal household's Instagram account. |
More than 60 deaths have so far been reported in the town of Paiporta | More than 60 deaths have so far been reported in the town of Paiporta |
The mayor of Paiporta, Maribel Albalat, told the BBC she was shocked by the violence, but that she understood "the frustration and desperation of the people". | The mayor of Paiporta, Maribel Albalat, told the BBC she was shocked by the violence, but that she understood "the frustration and desperation of the people". |
Juan Bordera, a member of the Valencian parliament, called the king's visit "a very bad decision". | Juan Bordera, a member of the Valencian parliament, called the king's visit "a very bad decision". |
Authorities “didn’t listen to any warnings,” Mr Bordera told the BBC. | Authorities “didn’t listen to any warnings,” Mr Bordera told the BBC. |
“It’s logical that the people are angry, it’s logical that the people didn’t understand why this visit is so urgent,” he added. | “It’s logical that the people are angry, it’s logical that the people didn’t understand why this visit is so urgent,” he added. |
On Saturday, Sánchez ordered 10,000 more troops, police officers and civil guards to the area. | On Saturday, Sánchez ordered 10,000 more troops, police officers and civil guards to the area. |
He said the deployment was Spain's largest in peacetime. But he added that he was aware the response was "not enough" and acknowledged "severe problems and shortages". | He said the deployment was Spain's largest in peacetime. But he added that he was aware the response was "not enough" and acknowledged "severe problems and shortages". |
The flooding began on Tuesday, following a period of intense rainfall. Floodwaters quickly caused bridges to collapse and enveloped towns in thick mud. | The flooding began on Tuesday, following a period of intense rainfall. Floodwaters quickly caused bridges to collapse and enveloped towns in thick mud. |
Many communities were cut off, left without access to water, food, electricity and other basic services. | Many communities were cut off, left without access to water, food, electricity and other basic services. |
Volunteer clean-up efforts have seen thousands of people with mops, buckets and brooms march to the areas most affected | Volunteer clean-up efforts have seen thousands of people with mops, buckets and brooms march to the areas most affected |
On Sunday, the death toll from the flooding rose to 217, with many more feared missing. | On Sunday, the death toll from the flooding rose to 217, with many more feared missing. |
Almost all of the deaths confirmed so far have been in the Valencia region on the Mediterranean coast. | Almost all of the deaths confirmed so far have been in the Valencia region on the Mediterranean coast. |
Some areas have been particularly devastated. Authorities in Paiporta, the town visited today by the royal delegation, have reported at least 62 deaths. | Some areas have been particularly devastated. Authorities in Paiporta, the town visited today by the royal delegation, have reported at least 62 deaths. |
Spain's meteorological agency AEMET issued its highest level of alert on Sunday for parts of southern Valencia - including the cities of Alzira, Cullera and Gandia. | Spain's meteorological agency AEMET issued its highest level of alert on Sunday for parts of southern Valencia - including the cities of Alzira, Cullera and Gandia. |
Intense storms forecast to pass the area will not be on the scale of Tuesday's, the agency said, with 90mm (3.45 inches) of rainfall expected. | Intense storms forecast to pass the area will not be on the scale of Tuesday's, the agency said, with 90mm (3.45 inches) of rainfall expected. |
With additional reporting from Mimi Swaby | With additional reporting from Mimi Swaby |
Get in touch | Get in touch |
Are you in the Valencia region? If it's safe to do so, please share your experiences. | Are you in the Valencia region? If it's safe to do so, please share your experiences. |
You can get in touch by following this link | You can get in touch by following this link |