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Angry crowds throw mud at Spain's king in flood-hit Valencia | Angry crowds throw mud at Spain's king in flood-hit Valencia |
(about 1 hour 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 the flood-hit town of Paiporta. | The King and Queen of Spain have been pelted with mud and other objects by angry protesters during a visit to the flood-hit town of Paiporta. |
Shouts of "murderer" and "shame" were directed at the royal delegation as they walked through the town - one of the worst-affected areas of the Valencia region. | Shouts of "murderer" and "shame" were directed at the royal delegation as they walked through the town - one of the worst-affected areas of the Valencia region. |
With mud on their faces and clothes, King Felipe and Queen Letizia were later seen consoling members of the crowd. | With mud on their faces and clothes, King Felipe and Queen Letizia were later seen consoling members of the crowd. |
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. |
Follow live: Angry crowds throw mud at Spain's king in flood-hit Valencia | Follow live: Angry crowds throw mud at Spain's king in flood-hit Valencia |
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. |
King Felipe and Queen Letizia have been visiting Paiporta, a town that has been severely affected. | King Felipe and Queen Letizia have been visiting Paiporta, a town that has been severely affected. |
King Felipe was heckled by angry residents during the visit to Paiporta | King Felipe was heckled by angry residents during the visit to Paiporta |
Footage showed the king making his way down a pedestrian street, before his bodyguards and police were suddenly overwhelmed by a surge of protesters, hurling insults and screaming. | Footage showed the king making his way down a pedestrian street, before his bodyguards and police were suddenly overwhelmed by a surge of protesters, hurling insults and screaming. |
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 and the officials accompanying them, who held umbrellas over the monarch as they departed. | Images showed mud on the faces and clothes of the king, queen and the officials accompanying them, who held umbrellas over the monarch as they departed. |
Queen Letizia also had mud thrown at her | Queen Letizia also had mud thrown at her |
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and the head of the Valencian parliament, Carlos Mazón, joined the royal couple on the visit, but were swiftly evacuated as the crowd grew more 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. | |
After he left, the crowd chanted: "Where is Sánchez?" | |
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. | |
It comes after residents criticised local authorities over their response to catastrophic flooding. | It comes after residents criticised local authorities over their response to catastrophic flooding. |
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. |
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 |
In a post on X, Mazón said he understood the public's anger and praised the king's "exemplary" response. | |
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 covered towns with thick mud. | The flooding began on Tuesday, following a period of intense rainfall. Floodwaters quickly caused bridges to collapse and covered towns with 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 town of Paiporta, visited today by the royal couple, have reported at least 62 deaths. | Some areas have been particularly devastated. Authorities in town of Paiporta, visited today by the royal couple, have reported at least 62 deaths. |
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 |