Spain: Angry reception as king visits flood-hit Valencia

Spain's King Felipe VI and government officials faced a hostile reception during their visit to the hard-hit area of Valencia.

The febrile atmosphere meant the visit to the region, where devastating floods have claimed the lives of more than 200 people,  had to be cut short.

What happened on the visit?

Most of the crowd's wrath was focused on Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and the head of the Valencia region Carlos Mazon — both of whom were whisked away by security. The king and his wife, Queen Letizia, spent an hour trying to calm tempers before leaving themselves.

In Paiporta, probably the worst-affected town, crowds shouted abuse at the king and pelted his entourage with mud and objects. 

Police had to step in with officers on horseback to keep back the crowd, who shouted "Get out! Get out!" and "Killers!" among other insults. Bodyguards opened umbrellas to protect the royals from mud and other objects thrown by protesters.

After seeking shelter, Felipe continued to attempt to interact with people in the crowd.

Some protesters shouted "Mazon resign!" and "How many deaths?! Out!" 

Earlier, the royals and Sanchez spoke to emergency crews involved in the cleanup operations.

Sanchez later said that, while he empathized with the "anguish and suffering" of the flood victims, "all forms of violence" were unacceptable.

Spanish authorities have faced criticism for being too slow to respond to the floods, with alerts only being sent out to mobile phones late on Tuesday once floodwaters had already started causing damage in Paiporta. Locals have also accused authorities of being too slow to tackle the cleanup and get aid to hard-hit towns.

More troops arrive to help with cleanup operations

So far, authorities have recovered 217 bodies, with 213 of them in the eastern Valencia region. Dozens of people are still missing.

On Sunday, the search continued with the help of about 4,000 new troops who arrived overnight. An additional 1,000 troops were expected to arrive on Sunday.

Spain's state meteorological agency issued a warning for heavy rain in the Valencia region, coinciding with the royal visit.

Authorities have been seeking to distribute aid to devastated towns and villages, some of which have been cut off from food, water and electricity since the torrential rain overnight from Tuesday into Wednesday.

Volunteers assist in clearing debris

Many mayors resorted to self-help, organizing first aid for their residents in villages that were often initially cut off from the road network.

Support also came from thousands of volunteers who walked from the city of Valencia to nearby villages, carrying donations and tools for clearing up. They helped clear the thick layers of mud and debris that still covered homes, streets, and roads.

On Sunday, Valencia's government limited the number of volunteers allowed to travel to the city's southern suburbs to 2,000 and restricted access to 12 localities.

What happened in Valencia?

The storms that hit the region late on Tuesday were centered over the Magro and Turia river basins. Quickly, the Poyo riverbed burst its banks, catching people off guard.

In towns and villages on the southern outskirts of Valencia, muddy water quickly covered roads and railroads and entered homes and businesses. Drivers were forced to take shelter on car roofs as residents sought higher ground.

The meteorological agency reported that the hard-hit town of Chiva had received more rain in eight hours than in the previous 20 months, describing the deluge as "extraordinary."

nm,dh/msh (AP, AFP, dpa)