Queen Letizia of Spain sheds tears

The Spanish royal couple were greeted by an angry mob in the disaster zone near Valencia. Felipe and Letizia only spoke out publicly shortly after the incident.

Anna-Lena Jansen/t-online

Angry people shouted at the Spanish royal couple, insulting them as “murderers” and throwing mud, rocks and sticks at them. King Felipe VI visited Paipota on Sunday, a town of 29,000 residents in the disaster zone near Valencia. Queen Letizia will take up the challenge. They became targets of anger and desperation among people hit hard by the floods.

Queen Letizia of Spain was thrown mud by demonstrators.Image: trapezoid

The royal couple traveled to the town with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and regional President Carlos Masson. Photos and videos showed Felipe trying to remain calm in the face of desperate people as security guards guided him through the angry crowd.

Queen Letizia was briefly separated from her entourage. You made the situation on set significantly difficult. With mud on her face and boos from the crowd, she bravely approached the residents, talked to them and hugged them, barely holding back tears. “It's not your fault,” some of the people present said. Public broadcaster Aragon TV showed moving images in the evening.

Felipe, Letizia, Sanchez and Masson then left the field. After Paiporta, the royal family is actually scheduled to visit Chihua, another affected location. However, due to the tense situation, the inspection of the disaster area was shortened in advance.

Queen Letizia was clearly affected.Image: trapezoid

“Of course they are angry”

King Felipe later expressed his understanding of the reaction of angry residents in the disaster area: “You have to understand the anger and disappointment of many people, that something bad has happened to them. But it is [für die Betroffenen] “It is difficult to understand how the mechanism of the rescue measures works and it is expected that their plight will be resolved soon,” the king said, according to Euronews.

Queen Letizia also expressed understanding: “Of course they feel that way. Of course they are angry,” she told ABC television.

Sanchez also stressed that he understood the “fear and pain” of those affected. At the same time, he condemned “all forms of violence” as unacceptable. Masson, for his part, explained on the online service X that he understands “social anger.” It was his “political and moral obligation” to listen.

The anger of those affected was mainly directed at Prime Minister Sanchez and regional President Masson. The crowd called for Masson to resign. Others asked how many more people would die. The local government was accused of failing to warn people of Tuesday's heavy rainfall via mobile phone text messages in time.

Felipe added after inspecting the disaster area that the country must exist as a whole. Talking about helping those affected, he said: “From what I understand, the situation is getting better every day. This is not speculation. I believe more and more resources are becoming available and effective [der Hilfsmassnahmen] also increased. “Felipe “on behalf of all Spaniards” thanked the soldiers for their work in the disaster area.

Meteorological authorities warn of further rainfall

Heavy rainfall hit eastern and southern Spain on Tuesday. Some places receive more rainfall than normal. The flooding is Spain's worst in decades. According to reports on Sunday, 217 people have been found dead, 213 of them in the Valencia region. Three more people died in the neighboring Castilla-La Mancha region. Another death was reported in Andalusia.

Authorities expect more deaths. “There are still many flooded ground floors or garages, cellars and parking spaces that need to be cleared, and it can be assumed that there are still dead people there,” Transport Secretary Óscar Puente wrote on the

On Sunday night, the Emmet Weather Service warned of another heavy rain. From 6pm to 11pm, the southern coast of the Valencia region is on red alert. As a result, rainfall amounts of up to 90 liters per square meter per hour are possible, with “very severe” storms possible.

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