Angry crowds throw mud and insults at Spain's king during visit to flood-hit region

Graham Stothard reports on the Spanish king's visit to Paiporta, Valencia

An angry crowd hurled mud and rocks at Spain's king and queen during a visit to the town of Paiporta, near Valencia, where more than 60 people died in flash floods.

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia were visiting the epicentre of the country's worst natural disaster in living memory, which has so far claimed more than 200 lives.

Shouts of “Get out! Get out!” and “Killers!” were directed at the royal couple as they tried to speak to residents affected by the flooding that hit eastern Spain on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Two bodyguards were injured as they tried to protect the royals from being pelted by objects including mud and a few rocks.

Officials also rushed Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez from the scene soon after his contingent started to walk the mud-covered streets near Valencia.

Police had to step in, some officers on horseback, to keep back the crowd of several dozen, some wielding shovels and poles.

Queen Letizia broke into tears after speaking to several people, including one woman who wept in her arms.

“We don't have any water,” one woman told her. “We have lost everything!” another said.

King Felipe VI remained calm and made several efforts to speak to individual residents. He insisted on trying to speak with people as he tried to continue his visit.

Anger has been growing over the official response to the floods which struck five days ago, and many people are still without drinking water.

On Saturday, the Spanish government announced 10,000 extra soldiers and policemen would be deployed to assist in rescue and clean-up efforts.

However, citizens have accused the country's local and national government of not responding fast or efficiently enough to the floods.

Internet and mobile phone coverage remains patchy and most people only got power back on Saturday. Thousands have had their homes destroyed by a tsunami-like wave of muck and water.

The floods had already hit Paiporta when the regional officials issued an alert to mobile phones. It sounded two hours too late.

More anger has been fuelled by the inability of officials to respond quickly to the aftermath. Most of the clean-up of the layers and layers of mud and debris has been done by residents and thousands of volunteers.

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