The Valencia region of Spain has recently suffered the worst flood in decades, and the disaster has continued to worsen, attracting national attention. King Felipe VI of Spain and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez went to the disaster area to comfort the people on November 3. However, when they inspected the disaster area, they were besieged and thrown mud by angry victims, and even their vehicles were damaged. The flood has killed at least 217 people, and the number of casualties is still rising. The Spanish government and local leaders have been strongly dissatisfied with the victims for their slow response.

The inspection of the disaster area encountered angry protests, and the government's response was questioned

King Felipe VI, the queen and Prime Minister Sanchez went to the hard-hit town of Paiporta in the Valencia region to inspect, but the victims at the scene were emotional. Angry residents threw mud at Prime Minister Sanchez and Carlos Mason, the chairman of the Valencia region. Sanchez's car window was broken and the car was full of mud. Witnesses from AFP said the king and queen were also attacked by mud and surrounded by angry victims, who pulled their clothes, forcing the inspection trip to be cut short. Sanchez left in a hurry under the escort of his entourage, and the scene was chaotic, showing the tense relationship between the government and the people during the flood.

Major Spanish TV stations also broadcast footage of victims besieging the king and the prime minister, and the dissatisfaction of the people in the disaster area with the government's rescue and post-disaster reconstruction operations was further revealed. Although the floods have occurred for many days, the basic rescue measures and government response in the disaster area have not been fully in place, which has led to a surge in anger among the victims. After meeting with the head of the Valencia disaster relief operation, Prime Minister Sanchez said that he understood the pain and disappointment of the victims, but he also severely condemned the violence on the scene, calling it an "individual phenomenon." He called on the people to remain calm and promised that the government would fully support the rescue and reconstruction of the disaster area.

The king called for unity to fight the disaster and convey hope to the victims

Facing the social tension caused by the floods, King Felipe VI of Spain called on the people of the country to unite and understand and support the anger and disappointment of the victims in a video speech released in the evening. The king said that the impact of the flood disaster was huge and the suffering of the people in the disaster area was extremely severe. He called on all parts of the country to unite and face this crisis together to bring hope and strength to the victims. In his speech, the king specifically mentioned that the reconstruction of the disaster area requires cooperation from all parties, and the needs and safety of the victims will become the government's priority.

The Meteorological Bureau issued a red alert again, calling on residents to stay at home

As heavy rains continue to hit southeastern Spain, the Spanish National Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has once again issued a "red alert" for Valencia. The Meteorological Bureau warned that the southern coastal areas of the area may usher in heavy rainfall of 100 liters per square meter between 18:00 and 23:00. Castellon and the surrounding areas of Valencia will face a very high risk of flooding, and water levels are expected to continue to rise. The Meteorological Bureau also issued a heavy rain warning for Almeria Province in the Andalusian Autonomous Region, calling on residents not to go out unless necessary and recommending to return home immediately to ensure safety.

This "red warning" shows that the flood risk has not been completely eliminated and the disaster situation may worsen further. The Valencian authorities are stepping up the formulation of preventive measures, mobilizing emergency rescue forces, and also arranging emergency evacuation measures to ensure the safety of residents. According to forecasts, heavy rain may still occur in the disaster area in the next few days. The meteorological department will closely monitor weather changes and release the latest warning information to the public in a timely manner.

The challenge of reconstruction and assistance, the government faces a test

The floods have caused serious damage to many cities in southeastern Spain. The floods not only submerged roads and infrastructure, but also caused huge losses to agriculture and the economy. The Spanish government faces the heavy task of post-disaster reconstruction and rapid restoration of normal life in the disaster area. Sanchez said that the government's current priority is to find the bodies of the victims, assist the trapped residents to evacuate, and gradually promote the reconstruction of infrastructure in the disaster area. Many places in Spain have launched emergency funding to help the victims tide over the difficulties, and it is expected that more resources will be invested in the future to support the restoration and reconstruction of the disaster area.

In addition, post-disaster cleanup, resettlement and psychological counseling work also need to be followed up. All sectors of society have called on the government to increase its assistance to the victims and actively mobilize social resources to provide assistance to the affected people. The Spanish Red Cross and several non-governmental organizations have entered the disaster area to assist in the rescue.

The national attention, the disaster triggered an international aid initiative

The Spanish floods have attracted widespread attention, and many European countries have expressed their willingness to provide humanitarian assistance to Spain. The European Union is also closely following the development of the situation and is ready to provide support to Spain when necessary. The attention of the international community shows that the impact of natural disasters transcends national borders, and countries need more cooperation in dealing with extreme weather caused by climate change.

This flood not only reveals Spain’s shortcomings in the disaster prevention and mitigation system, but also raises new thoughts on the issue of climate change. Analysts pointed out that the frequent occurrence of extreme weather has become a global challenge. In the future, Spain and other European countries need to invest more in preventive measures and post-disaster emergency preparedness to enhance disaster resistance.

With the support of national solidarity and international assistance, reconstruction work in the disaster-stricken areas of Spain is gradually underway. However, the trauma and losses caused by the floods will affect local residents for a long time, and post-disaster psychological and economic recovery also requires long-term attention.