The Spanish monarch, King Felipe VI, together with his wife, Queen Letizia, will attend a memorial service on Monday in Valencia for the victims of the devastating floods of 29 October that killed at least 230 people, the royal palace has said.
The ceremony in honour of ‘the deceased and the victims’ of Spain’s worst floods in a generation will take place at 7pm on 9 December at Valencia’s cathedral, the archbishop’s office in Valencia said in a statement.
Torrential rains on 29 October caused flash floods that killed at least 230 people, swept away cars, and wrecked homes and businesses, mainly in the eastern region of Valencia. Four people are still missing.
Popular outrage over the over the authorities’ handling of the disaster boiled over in the ground-zero town of Paiporta on 3 November when survivors hurled mud at Felipe VI and Letizia, as well as at Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and the regional president in Valencia, Carlos Mazón. ALSO READ: Spanish royals, PM and regional president pelted with mud by flood survivors.
The royal couple cut short that visit but were received with applause and cheers when they returned to the region on 19 November. ALSO READ: Felipe VI and Letizia return to flood zone for first time since being pelted by mud.
The government has scrambled to put together aid packages collectively worth €16.6 billion in grants and loans to help stricken citizens piece back together their shattered lives. ALSO READ: Sánchez defends central government’s response to Valencia floods, as aid rises to €16.6bn.
ALSO READ: 100,000 rally in Valencia, calling for regional leader to resign over flood response.
ALSO READ: Regional president of Valencia admits to ‘mistakes’ in handling flood disaster, but refuses to resign.
Los Reyes han estado en Chiva (Valencia), una de las localidades azotadas por la DANA, junto a los afectados, autoridades, servicios de emergencia y Fuerzas y Cuerpos de Seguridad.
— Casa de S.M. el Rey (@CasaReal) November 19, 2024
➡️https://t.co/Ryg7OkwcPV pic.twitter.com/Iqkl4jtHiG
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