Spain is grappling with the aftermath of catastrophic floods that have claimed the lives of over 214 people, mainly in the Valencia region. Emergency teams are scouring shopping centers, car parks, and homes in search of more victims, as public frustration mounts over the Spanish government's response to the disaster.
Heavy rains last week inundated Valencia and nearby regions, leaving entire towns submerged and wreaking havoc on infrastructure. Valencia alone recorded over 210 fatalities, while Castilla-La Mancha and Málaga reported additional deaths. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the flooding as "the worst natural disaster in Spain's recent history" and assured the public that "all necessary resources would be mobilized to deal with its aftermath."
In response, the central government deployed more than 10,000 troops and police officers to assist with the cleanup and rescue efforts. However, criticism of the government's handling of the disaster grew after it was revealed that emergency alerts in some areas were delayed, potentially leaving residents unprepared for the severe flooding.
The outcry became evident during Sánchez's visit to the flood-ravaged town of Paiporta in Valencia. The prime minister, accompanied by regional president Carlos Mazón and Spain's King Felipe and Queen Letizia, faced an angry crowd that threw mud and yelled "Killers!" and "Get out!" at the officials. Following the incident, Sánchez acknowledged the frustration, stating, "We know what people need, and our priorities are clear: saving lives, finding the bodies of the people who have died, and rebuilding the affected areas."
Sánchez emphasized that a small minority had been responsible for the hostility in Paiporta, but he maintained that "the violence carried out by a few people won't deflect the collective interest." He added, "It's time to look ahead and to keep on working with all the means and coordination needed to get through this emergency together."
The tension was exacerbated by remarks from Spain's Transport Minister óscar Puente, who acknowledged that the timing of Sánchez's visit may have been inappropriate given the public's anger. "Maybe it wasn't the best time," Puente said in an interview with La Sexta, referencing "a lot of anger" and "the activities organized by some people who belong to the extreme right."
In addition to the crisis in Valencia, Barcelona has been hit by severe weather, compounding Spain's ongoing emergency response efforts. Torrential rains on Monday led to a red alert for the region, prompting authorities to suspend commuter train services and reroute flights. Regional civil protection officials issued alerts urging people to "avoid any normally dry gorges or canals" as flash flooding became a major concern. Footage from Barcelona's El Prat airport showed submerged runways and diverted planes, with over 50 flights affected by the storm.
Further south in Tarragona, classes were canceled following a red alert warning. Several highways have been closed due to the flooding, which has forced air traffic controllers to redirect numerous flights arriving at Barcelona's airport.
Meanwhile, search efforts continued in Valencia, where thousands of wrecked cars, damaged homes, and tons of debris line the streets. Teams of volunteers, citizens, soldiers, and police are helping with the cleanup. The armed forces' military emergencies unit (UME) has focused its efforts on underground car parks and shopping centers, pumping out water and clearing mud in the hopes of finding more survivors or victims.
Among the casualties of the Valencia floods were British citizens Terry and Don Turner, a retired couple from Staffordshire, UK, who had moved to Spain about a decade ago. The couple's daughter, Ruth O'Loughlin, confirmed to the BBC that her parents' bodies were found inside their car after flash floods hit Pedralba, a town northwest of Valencia. "They had always wanted to live in the sunshine," O'Loughlin said of her parents.
In response to the public outcry, officials in Sánchez's administration suggested the protests were politically motivated, calling them a "far-right and anti-political show." King Felipe, who was present during the heated scenes in Paiporta, expressed empathy with the residents' frustration, stating, "One has to understand the anger and frustration of many people given all that they have gone through, as well as the difficulty in understanding how all the mechanisms work when it comes to the emergency operations."
Local officials in affected areas are calling for immediate action and assistance. Guillermo Luján, the mayor of Aldaia, a town near Valencia, implored officials for aid. "We're very angry and we're devastated," he said. "We have a town in ruins. We need to start over and I'm begging for help. Please help us."
