By Paul Whitelock
During a walkabout in Paiporta (Valencia), one of the worst-hit towns by la DANA which struck the area last Tuesday, Ki
ng Felipe, Queen Letizia, prime minister Pedro Sánchez and regional president Carlos Mazón were attacked with mud, cans and insults hurled by frustrated locals who have seen their houses destroyed, their cars washed away and who have lost relatives and friends.
Photo courtesy of YouTube
The King was clearly shaken and the Queen burst into tears at one point as the royal couple talked to devastated locals. Sánchez was nowhere to be seen.
The monarchs were then whisked away to safety and some parts of their planned itinerary were cancelled over fears for their safety. It is alleged that Sánchez went AWOL fearing for his safety.
Queen Letizia in tears [Photo: BBC]
This incident was widely reported internationally on TV, in newspapers and online.
However, it is noticeable that of the free local English-language papers in southern Spain only The Olive Press website has covered the story. The Euro Weekly News and SUR in English are once again “off the pace”.
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This how ABC online saw it:
La visita a Paiporta: un Rey que consuela, una Reina que rompe a llorar y Sánchez que desaparece
El paso de las autoridades por el municipio valenciano, uno de los más afectados por la tragedia de la DANA, se ha convertido en una multitudinaria protesta de los vecinos.
© Paul Whitelock
Links:
Angry crowds hurl mud and insults at King of Spain as he visits town devastated by floods | World News | Sky News
El minuto a minuto de la visita a Paiporta: un Rey que consuela, una Reina que rompe a llorar y Sánchez que desaparece
Spain's king and queen pelted with mud in flood-hit Valencia
Spanish royals, PM and regional president pelted with mud by flood survivors - Spain in English
Watch: Queen Letizia of Spain in tears after being pelted with mud during visit to Valencia's flood disaster zone alongside King Felipe - Olive Press News Spain
Acknowledgements:
ABC Online
BBC News
Sky News
Spain in English
The Olive Press
Photos:
Alexander Fiske-Harrison
BBC
The Telegraph
YouTube
Tags:
ABC Online, BBC News, Carlos Mazón, DANA, King Felipe, Paiporta, Paul Whitelock, Pedro Sánchez, prime minister, Queen Letizia, regional president, Sky News, Spain in English, The Olive Press, Valencia