Although the royal household initially said that the monarchs’ visit to the devastated area would continue, it later announced that a scheduled visit to the town of Chiva was cancelled “by joint agreement of the state, regional and royal household authorities.”
The local attack on Spain’s monarchs reflects growing discontent with how Spanish authorities are handling the disaster and its aftermath. National government officials complain that regional authorities, who have jurisdiction over emergency management, have been slow to accept Madrid’s offer to send in more recovery forces. On Saturday, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced 5,000 soldiers and 5,000 police officers would be sent to the area as part of Spain’s largest-ever deployment of troops in peacetime.
Sánchez himself was also targeted by furious locals on Sunday. The prime minister was due to accompany the king during his visit to Paiporta, but was forced to turn back after his entourage was attacked; one of the vehicles in his motorcade had its windows bashed by a crowd carrying shovels.
Protestors threw sticks at Sánchez, but he was not hit and left the scene unharmed.
Regional President Carlos Mazón, who also accompanied the monarchs, faced angry crowds that accused him of inaction in the lead-up to the floods and referred to him as a “murderer.”
In a message on X, Mazón said he understood the “social indignation” and said that it was his “political and moral obligation” to receive it.
Spain’s national weather service issued new red alert for the Valencia region on Sunday, with torrential rains expected to fall in many of the same areas that suffered deadly flooding earlier this week. Residents are being advised to leave low-lying areas and seek refuge in multistory buildings.
This story has been updated.
