Valencia protests erupt over flood negligence; 220 dead
Approximately 130,000 people gathered in the centre of Valencia on Saturday to condemn the authorities' actions during the floods. They accuse those in power of negligence, which resulted in the deaths of over 220 people. Clashes with the police occurred.
About 130,000 people gathered on Saturday in the centre of Valencia to demand the resignation of Carlos Mazón, the president of the autonomous community. The protesters hold him primarily responsible for the poor management during the floods.
One of the accusations against Mazón is his administration's failure to send flood warning alerts with adequate notice. Some individuals received them only when the water was already entering their homes.
During the demonstration, clashes with the police broke out twice. The first scuffle occurred at the beginning of the march, in front of Valencia's town hall, where the procession to the regional government's headquarters began. Protesters threw firecrackers and mud at the authorities. The police used batons to disperse the crowd.
The second clash happened at the end of the demonstration, near Plaza de la Virgen. Once more, mud, chairs, and other objects were thrown at the police.
Over 220 victims, dozens missing
From the start of the demonstration, participants chanted "murderer" and "resignation" while carrying banners with phrases like "Where were you then?" alongside a photo of a hand submerged in mud, holding a mobile phone displaying an alert warning of the flood.
Violent storms, floods, and inundations that struck Valencia at the end of October claimed the lives of at least 223 people. Searches are ongoing for several dozen missing individuals—currently focusing on a stretch of over 16 miles of the province's coastline, where the water could have carried the bodies.
