News reporter Juan Carlos Luque covers the devastating floods which have struck southern and eastern Spain, and the ensuing unrest it has generated.
The political atmosphere in Spain appears hostile after the hit of flash floods on the peninsula severely affected the eastern coast of the country, claiming 200 lives and many people still missing.
In the Region of Valencia, the lack of coordination between the Spanish central government and the Valencian regional government, led by ideologically opposed political parties, has sparked popular outrage. The severity of the “DANA”, formed when cold air blows over warm Mediterranean waters causing hotter air to rise quickly and form dense, water-laden clouds, has also re-opened the climate debate in the peninsula.
The late mobilisation of the emergency services in the areas affected by the DANA, as well as disagreements on the numbers of casualties and missing persons, has drawn criticism from the public over the inability of politicians to leave politics aside and collaborate for a cause beyond ideological differences.
The catchphrase ‘solo el pueblo salva al pueblo’ (translated as ‘only the people save the people’) quickly started trending on social media following the criticism, becoming the motto of the social movement. In the face of the perceived political inaction, the Spanish people began providing financial and physical aid in order to support Valencia, as many lacked access to potable water, food in good condition, suitable accommodation or places to shelter. Over the next few days, more than 20,000 National police and Guardia Civil officers joined the Spanish citizens in their tasks.
On November 3, the situation escalated when King Felipe VI, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, and Region of Valencia’s leader Carlos Mazón, were loudly accused of being ‘murderers’ and hit by muck thrown by frustrated locals in Paiporta, one of the municipalities most affected by the floods. Since this event, Sánchez and Mazón have together launched an aid-package for the reconstruction of the flood-devastated areas. An initial €10.6 billion economic support package financed by the central government has already been approved.
King Felipe has since returned to Valencia several times in order to coordinate the army forces that are collaborating in the area. The efforts of the three Spanish officials to turn the situation around do not appear sufficient. On November 9, more than 130,000 people protested in Valencia, calling for the resignation of Valencia regional leader Carlos Mazón.
Heavy rains are expected to hit Spain again soon, in what is already the deadliest natural disaster in the recent history of the Iberian country.