By José Bautista and Amelia Nierenberg
Spain was preparing for additional heavy rainfall on Monday as the nation dealt with the repercussions of devastating floods that resulted in numerous fatalities last week.
The Interior Ministry of Spain reported on Monday that the number of deaths had increased to 215 due to the floods triggered by torrential rains that commenced last week. This calamity has ignited a heated discussion regarding accountability, with some individuals blaming government officials for their delayed warnings.
While rescuers continued their search for missing persons, Spain’s meteorological agency cautioned about considerable rainfall expected in the coastal regions of Catalonia, Tarragona, and Castellón on Monday.
Regional leaders in Catalonia issued text alerts to citizens on Monday morning, disseminating the weather warnings and urging people to refrain from non-essential travel.
The meteorological agency indicated that approximately 6 inches of rain had been recorded by 11 a.m. in Barcelona, the capital of the region, adding that an additional 5 inches could fall later that day.
Numerous flights were canceled, and 18 were redirected from Barcelona’s international airport, according to the airport authorities. News outlets circulated videos depicting flooding within the terminals.
Rain was also present in Valencia, the area most severely impacted by the previous week’s flash floods, complicating ongoing search and rescue missions there on Monday.
Several major routes remained obstructed in the region, with some residents lacking electricity and access to potable water.
As the extent of the disaster becomes clearer, many Spaniards have questioned the preparedness of individuals for the devastation or the ferocity of the storms.
Spain’s meteorological agency began issuing alerts days prior to the intensification of the storm, and a series of warnings were given last Tuesday morning when the rains peaked.
However, the Valencia regional government, which oversees the official alert system, did not send out a text alert until after 8 p.m. that day, well after the floodwaters had begun to rise.
This delay has fueled anger and frustration towards the authorities — feelings that erupted on Sunday in Valencia when a group of leaders visited the town of Paiporta, where at least 60 lives were lost.
Protesters hurled insults and mud at King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, and Carlos Mazón, the leader of the Valencia region.
Some accused Mazón and other regional officials of inaction, questioning why he spent Tuesday morning in meetings with unions instead of taking decisive action to prepare for the floods.
Others, including Mazón himself, have criticized Sánchez and the national government for their slow response to the crisis.
Images of the king and queen marked with mud have left many Spaniards in shock. Despite having only symbolic power and no capacity to issue operational commands, he represents the nation and has personal sway over Spain’s elected officials.
Nonetheless, the royal family’s popularity has declined in recent years.
Juan Carlos, the former king, abdicated in 2014 and relocated to Abu Dhabi in 2020 to escape corruption probes. Prosecutors have since dropped associated fraud charges, yet the scandals from his reign, including extramarital affairs, have tarnished perceptions of his son Felipe, despite his attempts to portray a more restrained and responsible image.
In this instance, some perceived Felipe’s visit to the affected areas as more of a diversion than a source of solace, despite him remaining to speak with upset locals after political leaders, including Sánchez, departed due to security worries.
Criticism was also directed at the allocation of resources, noting that the king and his entourage could travel to Paiporta while rescuers and emergency teams struggled to reach the area.
Felipe expressed acknowledgment of the “anger and frustration” in a statement following the incident on Sunday, with mud still on his boots. Óscar Puente, Spain’s transport minister, remarked on the TV channel La Sexta that the visit was well-intended, but admitted that “perhaps it wasn’t the optimal time.”
