Why is there so much anger over floods that killed at least 200 people in Spain?

Deadly floods in Spain, in which at least 217 people died, hit the Valencia region last week, turning towns into disaster areas.

According to meteorological reports, affected areas experienced the equivalent of a year’s rainfall in an eight-hour period, making it Spain’s deadliest flood in recent memory.

In towns such as Paiporta, where more than 60 deaths were recorded, entire neighborhoods were flooded due to showers of water and mud. As a result of the flood, thousands of houses were destroyed; The streets were blocked due to overturned cars and piles of debris, and a thick layer of mud covered entire neighborhoods.

An unprecedented number of residents, nearly 3,000 households, were left without power into the weekend, while many are still left without basic resources such as drinking water, stable internet and communications services.

Tragedy happened too
biggest natural disaster In Spain’s modern history, this event is considered the most important flood-related disaster in Europe in recent years, surpassing the destruction caused by the 1967 flood in Portugal that killed approximately 500 people.

Anger among victims

A critical point of contention was the delayed issuance of official warnings. As waters rose, the regional government of Valencia sent emergency alerts to mobile phones two hours after the flood began, raising questions about the effectiveness and timeliness of disaster protocols.

“Please, the dead are still in the garages and families are looking for relatives and friends,” one resident said. ReutersHe underlines that a timely warning can save many lives.

Spanish Prime Minister grows more disappointed
Pedro Sánchez and the arrival of Valencia regional President Carlos Mazón to the disaster areas just days after the flooding occurred, fueling accusations that political conflicts between national and regional governments were delaying a unified response.

Needing regional authority to provide emergency aid, the federal government was unable to mobilize resources until Saturday, four days after the floods wreaked havoc.

Regional leader Mazón tried to calm the public by addressing criticism on social media: “I understand the anger and of course I am left to accept it. This was my moral and political obligation. “The King’s conduct this morning was exemplary,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter). But this did little to calm residents, many of whom called for his resignation.

Crowds slander and insult King Felipe and Queen Letizia

King VI of Spain Felipe and Queen Letizia made an unusual display of hostility.
faced intense public anger during their visit to the devastated town of Paiporta on Sunday. The royal couple, generally greeted with praise, were met with angry locals who hurled mud, stones and insults.

The guards, two of whom were injured during the ordeal, shouted “Murderers!” They screamed and opened umbrellas to protect the royals. and “Get out!” echoed in the streets.

King Felipe of Spain could have escaped the angry mob, as could the socialist Prime Minister.

Instead, he insisted on staying despite being pelted with mud. This is admirable.

While socialism rots society, the monarchy retains some semblance of dignity.

pic.twitter.com/1PbiuV9Gh3 pic.twitter.com/O9rSoUrrBJ

— 𝗡𝗶𝗼𝗵 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗴 ♛ ︎ (@NiohBerg) November 3, 2024

Queen Letizia was visibly shaken with mud on her hands and arms as she consoled the grieving residents, some of whom collapsed in her arms.

Meanwhile, King Felipe, with mud stains on his face, maintained his composure and attempted to speak to individuals in the crowd, embracing the distraught residents and voicing their concerns. “There’s a lot of toxic information floating around and a lot of people are interested in the chaos,” he said, urging people to focus on rebuilding efforts.

However, Sánchez was forced to leave early due to the escalating situation; His official car was visibly damaged as protesters voiced their frustration.

Pedro Sanchez’s car was destroyed while fleeing Paiporta, Valencia. pic.twitter.com/zr2eMCfIv0

— Daily Dominican (@daily_dominican) November 3, 2024

He later condemned the violence and said: “I want to express the solidarity of my government and acknowledge the pain, suffering and needs of the residents of Paiporta and the Valencia region.”

Volunteers come together after national response fails

Despite growing national support and calls for political unity, the government’s intervention efforts have come under heavy criticism.

Much of the initial cleanup was undertaken by local residents and volunteers, while the Spanish army, national police and Civil Guard mobilized thousands of additional personnel; Farmers and civilians used tractors and personal vehicles to assist in the massive removal of debris and rubble.

Sánchez explained
Deployment of 5,000 additional troops He suggested over the weekend that the government was doing all it could to support recovery efforts. But some residents and political analysts argue that the aid came too late.

Slow mobilization of resources, political differences between regional and national authorities, and delayed intervention left many Valencians feeling abandoned. Sánchez promised improvements to Spain’s disaster response framework, vowing that any negligence would be investigated.

Also Read:
How did DANA, a weather phenomenon, cause Spain’s deadliest floods in decades?

The tragedy, which occurred amid calls for solidarity, also mobilized society. Hundreds of volunteers gathered at Valencia’s Mestalla Stadium to collect and distribute food, clothing and essential supplies.

Social media platforms served as critical channels for organizing volunteer efforts, and even Valencia’s famous football team participated, offering the stadium as a donation center.

triggered by climate change

The floods exposed vulnerabilities in Spain’s emergency response system and underlined the need for improved warning protocols, efficient resource mobilization and faster disaster recovery.

Environmental scientists warn that these extreme weather events are likely to increase as climate change continues to affect the Mediterranean region.

For many residents of Paiporta and the Valencia region, the flood was a painful reminder of the unpredictability and devastation of climate-induced natural disasters.

With input from agencies