Countless individuals have demonstrated in Valencia, calling for the resignation of the regional president in light of the inadequate response to catastrophic flooding that resulted in over 220 fatalities.
Demonstrators flooded the heart of the eastern Spanish metropolis, chanting “murderers!” in their demand for Carlos Mazon’s departure.
Some protesters left muddy footwear outside a government building, while a banner proclaimed: “Our hands are smeared with mud, while yours are tainted with blood.”
There were also confrontations with riot police at the city hall, where the rally commenced, with law enforcement using batons to push back certain individuals.
The flooding of last month, which has left the nation reeling and necessitating extensive cleanup efforts, ranks among the most severe natural calamities in Europe in recent decades.
A protester holds a sign that reads “You’re always late”. Pic: Reuters
Mr. Mazon faces allegations of issuing an alert too tardily – at 8 PM on October 29 – long after water had already inundated towns and villages.
The Valencian president stated he would have acted sooner if he had been informed of the situation’s urgency by an official water authority.
Muddy footwear and handprints displayed outside the regional government facility. Pic: Reuters
However, Spain’s meteorological agency issued a red alert, the utmost level of warning, as early as 7:30 AM that same morning as the calamity approached.
Mr. Mazon is also facing backlash for the sluggish and disorderly response to the natural crisis.
Numerous volunteers were among the first responders in many of the worst-affected regions on the outskirts of Valencia. It took several days for a large number of police and military reinforcements to arrive.
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Protesters rally in Valencia regarding the response to the disastrous flooding. Pic: Reuters
“We aim to express our outrage and frustration over the inadequate handling of this catastrophe that has impacted so many lives,” stated Anna Oliver, president of Accio Cultural del Pais Valenciano, one of the organizations that spearheaded the protest.
Nearly 80 individuals are still unaccounted for almost two weeks following the disastrous floods, which represented the most lethal downpour in a single European nation in over 50 years.
Numerous homes were obliterated, and streets remain littered with mud and wreckage.
Approximately 220 individuals lost their lives in the flooding, with 212 fatalities in the eastern Valencia region. The search for additional bodies is ongoing.
Thousands of people were also displaced from their residences, and 11 days later, streets continue to be encrusted with mud and refuse following relentless rainfall that initiated the flooding.
