In the town of Paiporta, residents devastated by Spain’s catastrophic floods voiced their anguish and frustration directly to King Felipe VI and government officials on Sunday. The floods, which struck on Tuesday, are Spain’s deadliest disaster in decades, with at least 217 confirmed dead and many more feared missing.
King Felipe, accompanied by Queen Letizia, Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, and Valencia regional head Carlos Mazon of the Popular Party, were greeted with hostility as they visited the heavily impacted town of 25,000 people in the Valencia region. Crowds shouted, “How many have died?” and “Murderers!” as anger over the delayed official response boiled over. Local officials in Paiporta reported that more than 70 people lost their lives, with the death toll still climbing as bodies are recovered and people remain unaccounted for.
The royal visit, occurring five days after the deluge struck, only seemed to deepen resentment among the grieving residents. Many viewed the delay as an insult, while mud and debris still filled the streets, bearing witness to the tragedy. When the officials’ motorcade arrived, hundreds of Paiporta residents gathered, visibly upset, with one resident shouting abuse at the prime minister, who was quickly ushered away by security. Meanwhile, the king and queen attempted to connect with the crowd, although tensions were high. Felipe, visibly marked with mud on his jacket and face, faced accusations of insincerity as residents challenged him for not arriving sooner.
One young man expressed the crowd’s sentiments, telling the king, “If you had come on the first day and put on your boots, the people would have supported you.” Another resident, visibly emotional, shouted at Queen Letizia, demanding accountability for the deaths of children lost in the disaster.
In response, King Felipe acknowledged the community’s grief and anger in a later statement, saying the nation must “understand the anger and frustration” of those affected. In a video shared on social media, he urged the public to rally around the victims and assured them that the Spanish state would stand by them in their recovery.
However, in Paiporta, feelings of neglect lingered. Many residents blamed officials for not issuing timely warnings about the severe weather, a failure they believe cost lives. As Prime Minister Sanchez left the scene, crowds chanted, “Where is Pedro Sanchez, where is he?” voicing anger over what they see as inadequate leadership in the crisis.
As the royal couple departed, they paused briefly to speak with more residents, many still surrounded by wreckage. Cars lay entangled, streets were coated in mud, and avenues were transformed into graveyards of rubble. Under the watchful eye of their security team, King Felipe and Queen Letizia finally left Paiporta, leaving behind a community still reeling from tragedy and seeking answers.
