Hundreds of residents of a Valencia suburb particularly badly hit by last week's deadly floods protested on Sunday during a visit by Spanish King Felipe and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, with some throwing mud at them.
Chanting "Murderers, murderers!" they vented pent-up anger over what has been widely perceived by local residents as tardy alerts from the authorities about the dangers of Tuesday's storm and flooding in the Valencia region, and then a late response by the emergency services when disaster struck.
"It was known and nobody did anything to avoid it," a young man told the king, who insisted on staying on to talk to the people despite the turmoil, while the prime minister had withdrawn.
At one point in the visit to the stricken suburb of Paiporta Felipe held a man who was crying on his shoulder.
The central government has said issuing alerts to the population is the responsibility of regional authorities. The Valencia authorities have said they acted as best as they could with the information available to them.
Sanchez said on Saturday that any potential negligence would be investigated later.
The death toll from the country's worst flash floods in modern history edged higher to 217 on Sunday - almost all in the Valencia region and over 60 of them in Paiporta alone. Dozens of people were still unaccounted for, while some 3,000 households still had no electricity, officials said.
Thousands of additional troops and police joined the disaster relief effort over the weekend in the largest such peacetime operation in Spain.
The floods engulfed streets and lower floors of buildings, and swept away cars and bits of masonry in tides of mud.
The tragedy is already Europe's worst flood-related disaster in a single country since 1967 when at least some 500 people died in Portugal.
Scientists say extreme weather events are becoming more frequent in Europe, and elsewhere, due to climate change. Meteorologists think the warming of the Mediterranean, which increases water evaporation, plays a key role in making torrential rains more severe.
More than 40 suspects have been arrested in a massive international police operation targeting a drug gang accused of smuggling cocaine into Europe using high-speed “narco-boats.”
Despite government efforts to curb short-term tourist rentals amid a housing crisis, Spain has seen a 25% surge in such accommodations over the past two years, outpacing hotel growth and fueling public backlash over rising living costs.
Spain is preparing to significantly expand its public smoking restrictions by banning smoking on bar and restaurant terraces, as well as in other outdoor public areas, Health Minister Mónica García announced Thursday.
Experts say there is no proof a renewable energy experiment led to the widespread blackout across the Iberian Peninsula in April, as investigations point to a complex grid failure with no single identified cause.
Thousands marched in Madrid to protest health policies they say are eroding the city’s public healthcare system.
Iran has condemned the US-Iran nuclear negotiations as “meaningless” after Israel’s largest strike on Iranian targets, accusing Washington of backing the attack. The planned sixth round of talks faces uncertainty amid escalating tensions.
UN Security Council hears Israel and Iran clash over recent nuclear strikes, with both sides presenting sharply opposing views amid growing regional tensions.
Iran launched a third wave of missile attacks early Saturday, targeting Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan, with several buildings reportedly destroyed, according to Israeli media.
Israeli airstrikes have hit an area near Mehrabad Airport in western Tehran.
Israel struck the Shahid Raisi Nuclear Power Plant in Isfahan early Saturday, according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 8th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Pakistan will begin its first freight train service to Russia from Lahore on June 22. The route is part of the INSTC and aims to connect Pakistan's rail network with Central Asia, establishing a new trade corridor via Iran, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan.
Presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay is in critical condition after being shot three times — including twice in the head — during a campaign event in Bogotá.
Kazakhstan and the UK are strengthening defense ties with a new Military Cooperation Plan, focusing on peacekeeping and military education.
A 30-year-old woman was shot by police in Munich on Saturday evening after stabbing two people at Theresienwiese, a central park best known for hosting Oktoberfest.
Iran has condemned the US-Iran nuclear negotiations as “meaningless” after Israel’s largest strike on Iranian targets, accusing Washington of backing the attack. The planned sixth round of talks faces uncertainty amid escalating tensions.
UN Security Council hears Israel and Iran clash over recent nuclear strikes, with both sides presenting sharply opposing views amid growing regional tensions.
Iran launched a third wave of missile attacks early Saturday, targeting Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan, with several buildings reportedly destroyed, according to Israeli media.
Israeli airstrikes have hit an area near Mehrabad Airport in western Tehran.
Israel struck the Shahid Raisi Nuclear Power Plant in Isfahan early Saturday, according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA.
Iran has condemned the US-Iran nuclear negotiations as “meaningless” after Israel’s largest strike on Iranian targets, accusing Washington of backing the attack. The planned sixth round of talks faces uncertainty amid escalating tensions.
UN Security Council hears Israel and Iran clash over recent nuclear strikes, with both sides presenting sharply opposing views amid growing regional tensions.
Iran launched a third wave of missile attacks early Saturday, targeting Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan, with several buildings reportedly destroyed, according to Israeli media.
Israeli airstrikes have hit an area near Mehrabad Airport in western Tehran.
Israel struck the Shahid Raisi Nuclear Power Plant in Isfahan early Saturday, according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
