Spain fears a rise in flood deaths as more rain is expected

The death toll stood at 217 – almost all in the eastern region of Valencia – and Spain feared more bodies would be found in the worst such disaster in decades.

The national meteorological service AEMET announced the end of the state of emergency in Valencia, but put part of the north-eastern region of Catalonia on the highest red level of alert due to torrential rain on Monday.

Catalan trains were suspended until further notice, Transport Minister Oscar Puente X said, and flights were delayed and diverted at Barcelona’s El Prat airport.

The country was grappling with the aftermath of an extraordinary outburst of popular anger against King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

The Civil Guard has opened an investigation into the chaos in the town of Paiporta that interrupted their visit on Sunday, Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlasca told public broadcaster TVE.

He blamed “fringe groups” for inciting the violence as mud splattered the monarchs’ faces and clothes and smashed a window in Sanchez’s car.

The organization of the visit was a “collective mistake” because fringe groups hijacked raw emotions to endanger the royal family, Sanchez and the leader of the Valencia region, Carlos Mason, Puente, told La Sexta TV channel on Sunday.

The incident underscored growing outrage over the authorities’ preparation and response to the disaster.

Experts questioned the warning systems that failed to warn the population in time and the speed of response.

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– “We were abandoned” –

Thousands of soldiers, police, civil guards and firefighters spent a sixth day distributing aid and clearing mud and debris to find the bodies.

But relief efforts only reached some towns days after the disaster, and in many cases volunteers were the first to deliver food, water, sanitation and cleaning equipment.

“We shouldn’t romanticize it: people saved people because we were abandoned,” said Jorge, a resident of the city of Chiva, where the royal family canceled their visit on Sunday.

Applause should be for volunteers, not for those who come just to take pictures and show off,” the 25-year-old told AFP.

On Monday, divers focused their search for the missing bodies in garages and a multi-storey car park in the city of Aldaya, which can hold thousands of cars.

The storm trapped many victims in their cars on the roads and in underground spaces such as parking lots, tunnels and garages, where rescue operations are particularly difficult.

Local authorities have extended travel restrictions for two more days to ease the work of emergency services, canceled classes in Valencia and urged citizens to work from home.

Storms coming from the Mediterranean Sea are common for the season. But scientists warn that human-induced climate change is increasing the severity, duration and frequency of extreme weather events.

“Politicians have not taken action on climate change and now we are paying the consequences of their inaction,” environmental activist Amy, 21, told AFP in Chiva.