Spanish authorities grapple with grief and anger as the death toll from catastrophic floods in eastern Valencia rose to 217 on Monday, with rescuers working around the clock to retrieve bodies from submerged garages and homes.
The devastation, which has made this Spain’s deadliest flood disaster in decades, has left the nation reeling.
National weather service AEMET has declared an end to the emergency in Valencia but placed northeastern Catalonia on the highest alert for further torrential rains.
In response, Catalonia’s train services were suspended, and flights in and out of Barcelona’s El Prat airport experienced significant delays and diversions, announced Transport Minister Oscar Puente.
The tragedy ignited widespread public outrage, culminating in furious protests directed at King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez during their visit to Paiporta, the flood-hit epicenter, on Sunday.
The visit turned chaotic as crowds threw mud at the officials, even shattering a window of Sanchez’s car.
Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska attributed the unrest to “marginal groups,” announcing that the Civil Guard is investigating the incident.
Reflecting on the backlash, Transport Minister Puente said that “organising the visit was a collective mistake,” suggesting that fringe groups had incited public frustration to disrupt the officials’ presence.
Public anger is being fueled by concerns over inadequate warning systems and perceived delays in the response to the disaster.
As Spain mourns its losses, the catastrophe raises tough questions about the country’s preparedness and response mechanisms in the face of increasingly severe weather events.
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