November 9th 2024.
On a Saturday morning in Valencia, Spain, tens of thousands of people took to the streets in a passionate display of frustration and anger. Led by Paolo Santalucia and Joseph Wilson of the Associated Press, the protestors demanded the resignation of regional president Carlos Mazón. This call for action came in response to the devastating floods that had struck the city just a week prior, claiming the lives of over 200 people and leaving many more missing.
As the march reached the city hall, a group of demonstrators clashed with riot police, who resorted to using batons to push them back. The protestors then continued their march to the regional government building, where they expressed their discontent with homemade signs and chants like "Mazón Resign!" and "You Killed Us!" Some even slung mud at the building, leaving handprints on its facade as a symbol of their frustration.
Earlier that day, Mazón had addressed the situation in an interview with regional broadcaster À Punt, stating that "there will be time to hold officials accountable," but for now, the focus should be on cleaning the streets, helping those affected, and rebuilding. He also expressed his respect for the march, acknowledging the valid concerns of the people.
However, the conservative Popular Party leader faced criticism for the slow and disorganized response to the disaster. Many volunteers were the first to arrive at the hardest hit areas in the southern outskirts of Valencia, while it took days for the government to mobilize the necessary police and military reinforcements.
In Spain, it is the responsibility of regional governments to handle civil protection, and they can request additional resources from the national government in Madrid, led by the Socialists. Mazón defended his administration's handling of the crisis, citing the unforeseeable magnitude of the disaster and the lack of sufficient warnings from central authorities. However, it was revealed that the country's weather agency had issued a red alert for bad weather as early as 7:30 am on Tuesday, while some communities were already flooded by 6 pm. It wasn't until after 8 pm that the regional government sent out alerts to people's cellphones.
Adding to the frustration, Mazón was with Spain's royals and Socialist prime minister when they were met with mud and anger during their first visit to the devastated areas last weekend. Sara Sánchez Gurillo, who had lost her brother-in-law in the floods, was among the protestors. She expressed her grief and anger, stating that they wanted Mazón to resign but also held the country's leaders accountable for their lack of action.
The death toll continued to rise, with 220 victims reported on Saturday, 212 of which were in the eastern Valencia region. The search for bodies continued, while thousands remained displaced and streets remained covered in mud and debris. It had been 11 days since the tsunami-like wave caused by the record deluge swept through the city, leaving behind a trail of destruction.
Joseph Wilson reported from Barcelona, as the people of Valencia made their voices heard, demanding justice and accountability for the lives lost in the catastrophic floods.
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