King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain faced hostile crowds on Sunday, Nov. 3, as they visited Valencia, which has been ravaged by deadly flash floods. The royal couple encountered angry locals in Paiporta, one of the areas hardest hit by the floods, who threw mud and shouted “murderer” and “shame” at them in protest. The visit came as the death toll from the disaster surpassed 200, with frustrations mounting over a perceived delay in government warnings and inadequate support.
Footage shows King Felipe, 56, being guided by security through a crowd of shouting protestors, while Queen Letizia, 52, was visibly emotional with mud on her face as she embraced distraught residents. The tension highlights public anger in Spain about the response to the floods, which were caused by record rainfall on Oct. 29. Valencia saw a year’s worth of rain in just eight hours, leading to Spain’s deadliest flood in decades.
The Spanish government has faced criticism for allegedly sending a public warning to residents only after floodwaters had begun to rise. One resident confronted King Felipe directly, accusing him of abandoning the region. “You’re four days too late,” the man reportedly shouted.
In response, King Felipe expressed understanding for the frustration, saying, “One has to understand the anger and frustration of many people given all that they have gone through,” as reported by The Guardian. Felipe had previously shared his grief over the disaster, writing on X (formerly Twitter), “Strength, courage, and all the necessary support for all those affected.”
The devastating floods have displaced thousands and left over 140,000 people without power in Valencia, marking Spain’s most catastrophic flood event since 1996.
