Queen Letizia of Spain sheds a tear as she meets relatives of Valencia flash flood victims
Published: 14:35, 3 November 2024 | Updated: 16:32, 3 November 2024
Queen Letizia of Spain[2] shed a tear as she met those affected by the flash floods today in Valencia[3].
The royal, 52, greeted Portuguese rescue squad members after she arrived to visit the control station for the floods in Paiporta, eastern Spain[4].
Over 200 people have died from Tuesday's floods and hopes of finding survivors ebbed five days.
The town of Chiva was hit with nearly a year's worth of rainfall in a single day.
Torrents of muddy water wrecked towns and infrastructure in Spain's worst such disaster in decades.
Letizia appeared to be crying as she spoke to a woman in Paiporta, with the Queen wrapping her hands around her shoulder.
Queen Letizia appeared to be crying as she spoke to a woman in Paiporta today
She also consoled groups of sobbing women affected by the flash floods and gave them hugs as they explained their situations to the Queen.
Letizia's tears also came after she was heckled by angry crowds, as she and her husband King Felipe were splattered with mud.
The mother-of-two looked solemn as she met the regional president of Valencia, Carlos Mazon, regional minister Pilar Bernabe and the Mayor of Paiporta, Maribel Albalat.
She visited a local command centre in Paiporta with Felipe, as they were pictured listening to Spanish Civil Guard speak about the areas most affected by the flash floods.
The royal couple travelled to Paiporta and Chiva - the two towns most affected by the torrential rainfall - to pay their respects to victims and give their condolences to those affected by the floods.
However, King Felipe was heckled and had mud thrown at him by furious locals during his visit.
The monarch was pelted with mud and objects like drink cans by angry survivors of the deadly floods as he walked through the muddy streets.
Hecklers also targeted Letizia, as pictures showed the Queen with mud on her face, as she was helped through the busy streets.
She was dressed in practical attire, donning a waterproof black jacket and a navy blouse which she tucked into skinny black trousers.
The mother-of-two wore her brown tresses down and paired her ensemble with a pair of comfortable trainers and silver stud earrings.
Queen Letizia consoles a woman during her visit to Paiporta today
Queen Letizia hugs a woman who has been impacted by the floods
Hecklers targeted Letizia, as pictures show the Queen with mud on her face, as she was helped through the busy streets
Queen Letizia appears to wipe mud away from her face after being heckled
Queen Letizia comforts two women who have been impacted by the Spanish flash floods
A woman cries as Queen Letizia consoles her in Paiporta today
Queen Letizia greets Portuguese rescue squad members after she arrived to visit the control station for the floods in Paiporta
King Felipe and Queen Letizia listen to authorities and emergency service personnel
Angry residents of Paiporta shout during King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain's visit the town
Spain's King Felipe has been heckled and had mud thrown at him by furious local during his visit to Valencia, where more than 200 people died in devastating floods
A handout photo made available by the Spanish Royal Household shows Spain's Queen Letizia speaks to the Mayor of Paiporta, Maribel Albalat, as she arrives to visit the control station for the floods in Valencia, eastern Spain, 03 November 2024
Spain's King Felipe and Queen Letizia shake hands with authorities and emergency service personnel outside a command center as they visit the areas affected by the DANA, following heavy rains that caused floods, in Paiporta, near Valencia, Spain November 3, 2024
Letizia speaks with people affected by the flash floods in Valencia today
The crowd shouted insults at Felipe as well as government officials during the visit on Sunday, with police having to step in with officers on horseback to keep back the crowd of several dozens.
Almost all the deaths have been in the Valencia region, where thousands of security and emergency services frantically cleared debris and mud in the search for bodies.
Describing 'the worst natural disaster in the recent history of our country,' Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez[5] said it was the second deadliest flood in Europe this century.
The government had accepted the Valencia region leader's request for 5,000 more troops and informed Sanchez of a further deployment of 5,000 police and civil guards, the premier said.
Spain was carrying out its largest deployment of military and security force personnel in peacetime, he added.
Authorities in the Valencia region have restricted access to roads for two days to allow emergency services to carry out search, rescue and logistics operations more effectively.
With telephone and transport networks severely damaged, establishing a precise figure of missing people is difficult.
Sanchez said electricity had been restored to 94 percent of homes affected by power outages and that around half of the cut telephone lines had been repaired.
Food donations were made available to hard-hit residents in Valencia
A volunteer cleans up a town square after flash floods in Paiporta, a town which was particularly affected by the floods
King Felipe and Queen Letizia observe alongside emergency service personnel in a command centre
Cars piled up in a ditch at a construction site after being swept off the road by powerful floods
The storm and flooding has left carnage in its wake, with a huge clean-up operation now underway
Queen Letizia and King Felipe speak with the authorities and emergency services personnel
Some motorways have reopened but local and regional roads resembled a 'Swiss cheese', meaning certain places would probably remain inaccessible by land for weeks, Transport Minister Oscar Puente told El Pais daily.
Ordinary citizens carrying food, water and cleaning equipment continued their grassroots initiative to assist the recovery on Saturday.
Around 1,000 set off from the Mediterranean coastal city of Valencia towards nearby towns laid waste by the floods, an AFP journalist saw.
'There's nothing left,' Mario Silvestre, a resident in the ruined town of Chiva, told AFP on seeing the damage.
'Politicians promise a lot.
Help will come when it comes,' said the octogenarian.
Authorities have urged people to stay at home to avoid congestion on the roads that would hamper the work of emergency services.
Regional leader Carlos Mazon called the floods 'the worst moment in our history' on Saturday and laid out a series of proposals to help his region recover, ranging from infrastructure to economic support.
Queen Letizia of SpainKing Felipe VI of Spain[6][7]References
- ^ Gina Kalsi (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Letizia of Spain (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Valencia (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Spain (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Pedro Sanchez (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Queen Letizia of Spain (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ King Felipe VI of Spain (www.dailymail.co.uk)