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full screen Thousands demonstrate in Valencia on Saturday night. Photo: Emilio Morenatti/AP/TT
Thousands of Spaniards demonstrated on Saturday in Valencia to show their dissatisfaction with the way the floods in the region were handled by the authorities.
The focus of the protesters’ anger is Valencia’s regional leader Carlos Mazón, who is held responsible for the authorities not sending out warnings in time. Mazón is also accused of having acted too late and with too little force once the disaster was a fact.
More than 200 people died in the floods in Spain at the turn of the month. Thousands of homes have been destroyed by masses of water and mud that welled up. Many streets and houses are still covered in mud.
On Saturday, the crowd chanted, among other things, “We have been stained with mud, you are stained with blood” and “Resign Mazón”.
Riots broke out outside Valencia’s city hall, as protesters clashed with riot police, but otherwise the demonstration has so far been peaceful.