Protests over Spanish flood response erupt in violence
Police and rioters engaged in conflicts in Valencia and Madrid amid protests regarding the response to recent floods. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
In Valencia, approximately 130,000 people are calling for the resignation of the local government leader, Carlos Mazon, following significant protests that erupted in Valencia and Madrid. These demonstrations took place on Saturday in response to the Spanish authorities’ inadequate response to devastating floods that struck the country weeks prior.
The floods, triggered by heavy rainfall, resulted in the deaths of at least 220 individuals, with thousands of homes and businesses damaged across various towns in Valencia province. Officials have characterized the event as one of Europe’s most severe natural disasters in recent decades, with around 80 people still unaccounted for.
Demonstrators in Valencia expressed their anger towards Mazon, accusing him of failing to issue a timely warning about the flooding, which began on October 29. By the time he alerted residents, many were already facing rising waters in their neighborhoods. Mazon has responded by stating that he did not receive prompt notifications regarding the severity of the situation from the government's water monitoring department.
Protesters shouted “Murderers” and “Mazon resign,” while displaying banners with messages such as “You killed us” and “Our hands are stained with mud, yours with blood.”
Initially, the rally was peaceful, but tensions rose as the crowd approached the city council building. Videos showed police clashing with protesters, using batons to maintain order. Demonstrators responded by fighting back with brooms, which they had brought in as symbols of their cleanup efforts after the flooding.
As the protest escalated, demonstrators hurled flares, stones, and mud at the city council building, leaving dirty boots outside as a demonstration of their dissatisfaction with local leadership. Despite the chaos, reports indicate that the building sustained only minor damage.
A similar protest took place in Madrid, where thousands joined in, many waving Spanish flags. Chants were directed at both Mazon and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. Rioters in the crowd dismantled barricades and launched attacks on police with flares and stones. In response, officers deployed batons and tear gas, resulting in a chaotic scene captured on video.
Additional demonstrations occurred in Alicante, Elche, and other cities as citizens expressed their outrage over the Spanish government’s handling of the floods.
Allen M Lee contributed to this report for TROIB News
The floods, triggered by heavy rainfall, resulted in the deaths of at least 220 individuals, with thousands of homes and businesses damaged across various towns in Valencia province. Officials have characterized the event as one of Europe’s most severe natural disasters in recent decades, with around 80 people still unaccounted for.
Demonstrators in Valencia expressed their anger towards Mazon, accusing him of failing to issue a timely warning about the flooding, which began on October 29. By the time he alerted residents, many were already facing rising waters in their neighborhoods. Mazon has responded by stating that he did not receive prompt notifications regarding the severity of the situation from the government's water monitoring department.
Protesters shouted “Murderers” and “Mazon resign,” while displaying banners with messages such as “You killed us” and “Our hands are stained with mud, yours with blood.”
Initially, the rally was peaceful, but tensions rose as the crowd approached the city council building. Videos showed police clashing with protesters, using batons to maintain order. Demonstrators responded by fighting back with brooms, which they had brought in as symbols of their cleanup efforts after the flooding.
As the protest escalated, demonstrators hurled flares, stones, and mud at the city council building, leaving dirty boots outside as a demonstration of their dissatisfaction with local leadership. Despite the chaos, reports indicate that the building sustained only minor damage.
A similar protest took place in Madrid, where thousands joined in, many waving Spanish flags. Chants were directed at both Mazon and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. Rioters in the crowd dismantled barricades and launched attacks on police with flares and stones. In response, officers deployed batons and tear gas, resulting in a chaotic scene captured on video.
Additional demonstrations occurred in Alicante, Elche, and other cities as citizens expressed their outrage over the Spanish government’s handling of the floods.
Allen M Lee contributed to this report for TROIB News
