Thousands Protest in Valencia Over Flood Management
On November 30, 2024, several thousand demonstrators gathered in Valencia, Spain, to voice their anger over the authorities' handling of the catastrophic floods that occurred at the end of October. The floods, which resulted in a tragic total of 230 deaths, with 222 of those in the Valencia region alone, have sparked widespread outrage among the affected communities. Protesters chanted slogans such as "Mazón, resign," targeting Carlos Mazón, the conservative president of the Valencia region, and displayed banners reading, "Your negligence is our misfortune" and "Valencia is all of us."
The demonstration, organized by local and union groups, highlighted the perceived incompetence of the regional government in managing the disaster. Raquel Ferrandis, a 55-year-old teacher from Paiporta, the town hardest hit by the floods, expressed her frustration, stating, "What went wrong? Incompetence. That's why we're here, because there are a lot of incompetent people who continue to be paid."
The Impact of the Floods
The torrential rains that began on October 29 led to widespread devastation across the region, with extensive material damage estimated in the millions of euros. In addition to the fatalities, four individuals remain missing. The scale of the disaster prompted a previous demonstration on November 9, where around 130,000 people rallied in Valencia to demand accountability from both the regional and central governments. Protesters criticized the emergency management efforts led by the socialist government of Pedro Sánchez, arguing that the regional authorities failed to adequately warn residents of the impending danger and delayed aid deployment in over 70 municipalities.
Calls for Accountability
Spain's decentralized governance structure places disaster management primarily in the hands of regional authorities, but the central government can intervene in extreme situations. The ongoing protests reflect a growing demand for accountability and better preparedness for future emergencies. As the community continues to mourn the loss of life and grapple with the aftermath of the floods, the calls for reform in disaster management practices are likely to intensify.
