Sat Nov 09 20:09:44 UTC 2024: ## Anger Erupts in Valencia as Flood Death Toll Rises and Government Faces Criticism
**Valencia, Spain** – Thousands of people took to the streets of Valencia on Saturday night in a demonstration against the regional government’s handling of devastating floods that have claimed at least 220 lives and left nearly 80 people missing.
The protest, one of several held in the city since the floods began earlier this week, saw protesters clashing with riot police and chanting for the resignation of Regional Leader Carlos Mazon. Many expressed anger over the government’s delayed flood alerts and what they perceive as a sluggish and disorganized response to the disaster.
“You killed us!” protesters wrote on banners, with others leaving muddy boots outside the council building to symbolize their outrage.
The protest comes as criticism mounts against the government’s handling of the crisis, with many accusing Mazon of failing to issue timely flood warnings. While Mazon has defended his actions, citing the unforeseen magnitude of the disaster, his administration only issued alerts to citizens after homes began to fill with water. This was despite Spain’s national weather agency issuing a red alert, the highest level of warning, over 12 hours earlier.
The criticism is further fueled by the slow response to the crisis, with volunteers often arriving before government forces. Furthermore, the floods have been dubbed the deadliest in Europe since 1967, when Portugal experienced a similar disaster that killed nearly 500 people.
The protests, which included chants of “murderers” during a visit from King Felipe and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez earlier this week, highlight the growing public frustration and demand for accountability in the wake of this devastating natural disaster.
First Piper 