London24NEWS

King Felipe and Queen Letizia bravely endure being pelted with mud and objects by anguished locals as they attempt to ‘calm tensions’ in aftermath of Valencia floods whereas Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez flees amid chants of ‘murderers’

Spain‘s King Felipe and Queen Letizia have bravely endured being pelted with mud and objects by anguished locals as they tried to calm tensions in the aftermath of the deadly floods in Valencia.

The monarchs had mud and objects like drink cans thrown at them by angry survivors of the floods that killed more than 200 people as they walked through the muddy streets in Paiporta, one of the hardest-hit towns on the outskirts of Valencia. 

Queen Letizia could be seen with mud speckled over her face, while one of the bodyguards escorting the royals in Paiporta had seemingly been hit by an object as he had a cut on his forehead, which caused blood to run down his face.

The crowd shouted ‘murderers’ and other insults at the royals and government officials like Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez during the visit on Sunday. 

Police had to step in, with some officers on horseback to keep back the crowd of several dozens. Bodyguards opened umbrellas to protect the royal visitors and officials as protesters hurled mud at them. 

After being forced to seek protection, the king and queen remained calm and made several efforts to speak to individual residents, while local officials – who the angry crowd had reportedly directed their wrath at – fled. 

The king and queen spent an hour trying to calm tempers before leaving themselves, while Sanchez and the head of the Valencia region, Carlos Mazon, quickly left, not before the rear window of the premier’s vehicle was broken. 

‘I understand the social anger and of course, I’m here to receive it. This is my political and moral obligation,’ Mazon later said in a post on X, while calling the king’s conduct ‘exemplary’.

Isabel Diaz Ayuso, president of the community government in Madrid, echoed the praise for the King and added that Queen Letizia embodied ‘the sentiment of Spain’. 

Spain's Queen Letizia consoles a woman during her visit to Paiporta, eastern Spain, November 3, 2024

Spain’s Queen Letizia consoles a woman during her visit to Paiporta, eastern Spain, November 3, 2024

Spain's Queen Letizia speaks to people as she has mud on her face, following heavy rains that caused floods, in Paiporta, near Valencia, Spain, November 3, 2024

Spain’s Queen Letizia speaks to people as she has mud on her face, following heavy rains that caused floods, in Paiporta, near Valencia, Spain, November 3, 2024

Spain's King Felipe has been heckled and had mud thrown at him by furious local during his visit to Valencia, where more than 200 people died in devastating floods

Spain’s King Felipe has been heckled and had mud thrown at him by furious local during his visit to Valencia, where more than 200 people died in devastating floods

Queen Letizia can be seen with mud on her face while a bodyguard behind her has blood streaming down his head after he was likely hit by one of the objects thrown at the royals

Queen Letizia can be seen with mud on her face while a bodyguard behind her has blood streaming down his head after he was likely hit by one of the objects thrown at the royals

Spain's King Felipe gestures with mud on his clothes and face, thrown at him by citizens, as he tries to speak to people during his visit to the areas affected by a storm, following heavy rains that caused floods, in Paiporta, near Valencia, Spain, November 3, 2024

Spain’s King Felipe gestures with mud on his clothes and face, thrown at him by citizens, as he tries to speak to people during his visit to the areas affected by a storm, following heavy rains that caused floods, in Paiporta, near Valencia, Spain, November 3, 2024

Queen Letizia could be seen with mud speckled over her face

Queen Letizia could be seen with mud speckled over her face

Angry residents of Paiporta shout during King Felipe VI of Spain's visit to this town, in the region of Valencia, eastern Spain, on November 3, 2024

Angry residents of Paiporta shout during King Felipe VI of Spain’s visit to this town, in the region of Valencia, eastern Spain, on November 3, 2024

A crowd of angry survivors tossed mud and shouted insults at King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia as well as government officials when they made their first visit to one of the hardest hit towns on Sunday

A crowd of angry survivors tossed mud and shouted insults at King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia as well as government officials when they made their first visit to one of the hardest hit towns on Sunday 

Spain's Queen Letizia (right) reacts during a visit to Paiporta, eastern Spain, November 3, 2024

Spain’s Queen Letizia (right) reacts during a visit to Paiporta, eastern Spain, November 3, 2024

Felipe insisted on trying to speak with people as he continued his visit. He spoke to several people, patting two young men on their backs and sharing a quick embrace, with mud stains on his black raincoat

Felipe insisted on trying to speak with people as he continued his visit. He spoke to several people, patting two young men on their backs and sharing a quick embrace, with mud stains on his black raincoat

A handout photo made available by the Spanish Royal Household shows Spain's Queen Letizia greeting Portuguese rescue team members as she arrives to visit the control station for the floods in Paiporta, eastern Spain, 3 November 2024

A handout photo made available by the Spanish Royal Household shows Spain’s Queen Letizia greeting Portuguese rescue team members as she arrives to visit the control station for the floods in Paiporta, eastern Spain, 3 November 2024

Spain's Queen Letizia consoles a woman during her visit to Paiporta, eastern Spain, November 3 2024

Spain’s Queen Letizia consoles a woman during her visit to Paiporta, eastern Spain, November 3 2024

King Felipe consoles a man in Paiporta, the worst-hit town in the Valencia region

King Felipe consoles a man in Paiporta, the worst-hit town in the Valencia region

The extraordinary scenes underscored the depth of the anger in the country over the response to the nation’s worst such disaster in decades, with the death toll rising over 200 and hopes for finding survivors ebbing five days on. 

Almost all the deaths have been in the Valencia region, where thousands of security and emergency services frantically cleared debris and mud in the search for bodies.

Describing ‘the worst natural disaster in the recent history of our country,’ Sanchez said it was the second deadliest flood in Europe this century.

Indignation at the management of Spain’s worst natural disaster in living memory started after the initial shock wore off.

The floods had already started filling Paiporta with crushing waves when regional officials issued an alert to mobile phones that sounded two hours too late.

And more anger has been fuelled by the inability of officials to respond quickly in the aftermath.

Most of the clean-up of the layers and layers of mud and debris that has invaded countless homes has been carried out by residents and thousands of volunteers.

‘We have lost everything!’ someone shouted.

Felipe insisted on trying to speak with people as he continued his visit. He spoke to several people, patting two young men on their backs and sharing a quick embrace, with mud stains on his black raincoat.

According to a journalist for Spanish broadcaster RTVE, one woman wept and told the king she did not have food and nappies, while another person said: ‘Don’t abandon us.’

After more than half an hour of tension, the monarch and the rest of the delegation got into official cars and left with a mounted police escort.

Sanchez later said while he empathised with the ‘anguish and suffering’ of the victims, he condemned ‘all forms of violence’. 

The government had accepted the Valencia region leader’s request for 5,000 more troops and informed Sanchez of a further deployment of 5,000 police and civil guards, the premier said.

Spain was carrying out its largest deployment of military and security force personnel in peacetime, he added.

Restoring order and distributing aid to destroyed towns and villages – some of which have been cut off from food, water and power since Tuesday’s torrent – is a priority.

Authorities have come under fire over the warning systems before the floods, and some stricken residents have complained the response to the disaster is too slow.

Queen Letizia spoke to locals as mud was hurled at her and husband King Felipe

Queen Letizia spoke to locals as mud was hurled at her and husband King Felipe

Spain's Queen Letizia speaks with people affected by the floods after crowd of angry survivors of Spain's floods tossed mud and shouted insults at the Spain's King Felipe and government officials in Paiporta near Valencia, Spain, Sunday, November 3, 2024

Spain’s Queen Letizia speaks with people affected by the floods after crowd of angry survivors of Spain’s floods tossed mud and shouted insults at the Spain’s King Felipe and government officials in Paiporta near Valencia, Spain, Sunday, November 3, 2024

Queen Letizia (centre) and King Felipe VI of Spain react as angry residents heckle them during their visit to Paiporta, in the region of Valencia, eastern Spain, on November 3, 2024

Queen Letizia (centre) and King Felipe VI of Spain react as angry residents heckle them during their visit to Paiporta, in the region of Valencia, eastern Spain, on November 3, 2024

King Felipe's visit to Paiporta was accompanied by shouting from enraged locals

King Felipe’s visit to Paiporta was accompanied by shouting from enraged locals

Spain's King Felipe and Queen Letizia shake hands with authorities and emergency service personnel outside a command center as they visit the areas affected by the DANA, following heavy rains that caused floods, in Paiporta, near Valencia, Spain November 3, 2024

Spain’s King Felipe and Queen Letizia shake hands with authorities and emergency service personnel outside a command center as they visit the areas affected by the DANA, following heavy rains that caused floods, in Paiporta, near Valencia, Spain November 3, 2024

A volunteer cleans up a town square after flash floods in Paiporta, a town which was particularly affected by the floods

A volunteer cleans up a town square after flash floods in Paiporta, a town which was particularly affected by the floods

A handout photo made available by the Spanish Royal Household shows Spain's Queen Letizia speaks to the Mayor of Paiporta, Maribel Albalat, as she arrives to visit the control station for the floods in Valencia, eastern Spain, 03 November 2024

A handout photo made available by the Spanish Royal Household shows Spain’s Queen Letizia speaks to the Mayor of Paiporta, Maribel Albalat, as she arrives to visit the control station for the floods in Valencia, eastern Spain, 03 November 2024

Volunteers and residents clean the mud four days after flash floods swept away everything in their path in Paiporta, outskirts of Valencia

Volunteers and residents clean the mud four days after flash floods swept away everything in their path in Paiporta, outskirts of Valencia

Rescuers continue to search for survivors with fears underwater car parks will be 'mass graves'

Rescuers continue to search for survivors with fears underwater car parks will be ‘mass graves’

Water streams down a stairs in a town in Majorca as the roads are submerged by high floodwaters

Water streams down a stairs in a town in Majorca as the roads are submerged by high floodwaters

A view of the demolition works at a damaged house after flash floods in Letur, province of Albacete, Spain

A view of the demolition works at a damaged house after flash floods in Letur, province of Albacete, Spain

People wearing PPE try to sweep away mud as they desperately clean up the streets

People wearing PPE try to sweep away mud as they desperately clean up the streets

Food donations were made available to hard-hit residents in Valencia

Food donations were made available to hard-hit residents in Valencia

A police officer checking inside piled up vehicles for victims in the aftermath of the flooding on Saturday

A police officer checking inside piled up vehicles for victims in the aftermath of the flooding on Saturday

Cars piled up in a ditch at a construction site after being swept off the road by powerful floods

Cars piled up in a ditch at a construction site after being swept off the road by powerful floods

Vehicles pile up in the streets caused by late Tuesday and early Wednesday storm that left hundreds dead or missing in Alfafar, Valencia

Vehicles pile up in the streets caused by late Tuesday and early Wednesday storm that left hundreds dead or missing in Alfafar, Valencia

‘I am aware the response is not enough, there are problems and severe shortages… towns buried by mud, desperate people searching for their relatives… we have to improve,’ Sanchez said.

In the ground-zero towns of Alfafar and Sedavi, reporters saw no soldiers while residents shovelled mud from their homes and firefighters pumped water from garages and tunnels.

‘Thank you to the people who have come to help us, to all of them, because from the authorities, nothing,’ a furious Estrella Caceres, 66, told AFP in Sedavi.

Authorities in the Valencia region have restricted access to roads for two days to allow emergency services to carry out search, rescue and logistics operations more effectively.

With telephone and transport networks severely damaged, establishing a precise figure of missing people is difficult.

Sanchez said electricity had been restored to 94 percent of homes affected by power outages and that around half of the cut telephone lines had been repaired.

Some motorways have reopened but local and regional roads resembled a ‘Swiss cheese’, meaning certain places would probably remain inaccessible by land for weeks, Transport Minister Oscar Puente told El Pais daily.

Ordinary citizens carrying food, water and cleaning equipment continued their grassroots initiative to assist the recovery on Saturday.

Around 1,000 set off from the Mediterranean coastal city of Valencia towards nearby towns laid waste by the floods, an AFP journalist saw.

‘There’s nothing left,’ Mario Silvestre, a resident in the ruined town of Chiva, told AFP on seeing the damage.

‘Politicians promise a lot. Help will come when it comes,’ said the octogenarian.

Authorities have urged people to stay at home to avoid congestion on the roads that would hamper the work of emergency services.

Regional leader Carlos Mazon called the floods ‘the worst moment in our history’ on Saturday and laid out a series of proposals to help his region recover, ranging from infrastructure to economic support.

He is due to visit flood-hit areas along with the royals and Sanchez on Sunday, Spanish news agency EFE reported.

The storm and flooding has left carnage in its wake, with a huge clean-up operation now underway

The storm and flooding has left carnage in its wake, with a huge clean-up operation now underway

Thousands of people arrive at the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias complex to volunteer in helping in the reconstruction and cleaning of towns affected by flash floods, in Valencia

A bulldozer is used to clear vehicles from streets in the town of Catarroja, in the region of Valencia

A bulldozer is used to clear vehicles from streets in the town of Catarroja, in the region of Valencia

Civil Guard officers search for survivors inside cars trapped under the foundations of a building under construction in the town of Paiporta, Valencia

Civil Guard officers search for survivors inside cars trapped under the foundations of a building under construction in the town of Paiporta, Valencia

The official death toll stands at 211, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told a press conference on Saturday morning

The official death toll stands at 211, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told a press conference on Saturday morning

Officials expect the death toll to keep rising, with the disaster already Europe's worst flood-related calamities since 1967 when at least 500 people died in Portugal

Officials expect the death toll to keep rising, with the disaster already Europe’s worst flood-related calamities since 1967 when at least 500 people died in Portugal

A woman carries a shopping trolley through a flooded street in Manasa, province of Valencia

A woman carries a shopping trolley through a flooded street in Manasa, province of Valencia

Rescue teams search for missing people in a flooded residential car park in Picanya municipality, Valencia, on November 2 following the storm

Rescue teams search for missing people in a flooded residential car park in Picanya municipality, Valencia, on November 2 following the storm

People walking through a muddy street in Alfafar, Valencia following the mega storm

People walking through a muddy street in Alfafar, Valencia following the mega storm

Officers searching piled up cars in Alfafar for victims. Over 2,000 people are still missing following the severe flooding

Officers searching piled up cars in Alfafar for victims. Over 2,000 people are still missing following the severe flooding

The storm that sparked the floods on Tuesday formed as cold air moved over the warm waters of the Mediterranean and is common for this time of year.

But scientists warn climate change driven by human activity is increasing the ferocity, length and frequency of such extreme weather events.

Emergency services late Saturday issued an updated of toll of 213 people confirmed killed – 210 in the Valencia region, two in neighbouring Castilla-La Mancha and one in Andalusia in the south.

Authorities have warned the toll could yet rise, as vehicles trapped in tunnels and underground car parks are cleared.