Thousands of people have marched in Valencia and demanded the resignation of the region’s president over the response to devastating flooding that left more than 220 dead.
Protesters filled the centre of the eastern Spanish city and chanted “killers!” as they called for Carlos Mazon to go.
Some dumped muddy boots outside a regional government building, while one banner read: “Our hands are stained with mud, yours with blood.”
There were also some clashes with riot police in front of the city hall where the march began, with police using batons to force some protesters back.
Last month’s flooding, which has left the country reeling and requiring a huge cleanup effort, is one of the worst natural disasters in Europe for decades.
A demonstrator holds a placard that reads “You’re always late”. Pic: Reuters
Mr Mazon is accused of issuing an alert too late – at 8pm on 29 October – well after water was already coursing into towns and villages.
The Valencian leader said he would have done so earlier if authorities had been notified of the severity of the situation by an official water body.
Muddy boots and handprints outside the regional government building. Pic: Reuters
But Spain’s weather agency issued a red alert, the highest level of warning, as early as 7.30am that morning as the disaster loomed.
Mr Mazon is also being criticised for the slow and chaotic response to the natural disaster.
Thousands of volunteers were the first on the ground in many of the worst-hit areas on the outskirts of Valencia. It took days for thousands of police and military reinforcements to be sent in.
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Protesters march in Valencia over the response to the catastrophic flooding. Pic: Reuters
“We want to show our indignation and anger over the poor management of this disaster which has affected so many people,” said Anna Oliver, president of Accio Cultural del Pais Valenciano, one the groups that organised the protest.
Nearly 80 people are still missing nearly two weeks on from the catastrophic floods, which saw the most deadly deluge in a single country in Europe in more than 50 years.
Thousands of people’s homes were destroyed and streets are still covered in mud and debris.
Some 220 people died in the flooding, with 212 of those in the eastern Valencia region. The search for more bodies is continuing.
Thousands of people also lost their homes and streets are still covered in mud and debris 11 days after heavy rainfall triggered the flooding.