A royal family visit to a flood-hit Spanish town, aimed at connecting with the people and understanding their problems, took an abrupt turn after King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia were thrown into the mud by an angry crowd on Sunday (November 2017). 3).

The king and queen were hit in the face by mud and their clothes were also ruined when the royal couple tried to talk to angry locals who kept calling them “murderers” and other insulting terms in the hard-hit Valencian town of Paiporta.

The crowd’s anger was mainly directed at Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and the head of the Valencia region, Carlos Mazon. Some in the crowd were also heard shouting, “Mazon resign!” How many deaths?! Out !

The town of Paiporta is one of the regions most affected by the floods, which left more than 200 people dead. The royal couple was accompanied by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and other officials.

Hopes of finding survivors have dimmed as one of the worst floods in the country’s history destroyed infrastructure and towns.

Most of the deaths were reported in the Valencia region, as thousands of security and emergency services worked frantically to clear mud and debris in search of the bodies.

Calling it “the worst natural disaster in our country’s recent history,” Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said it was the second deadliest flood this century in Europe.

Watch: What caused Spain’s deadly floods?

“I am aware that the response is not enough, there are problems and serious shortages… towns buried in mud, people desperate looking for their loved ones… we need to improve,” Sanche said.

Authorities including Mazon were criticized for failing warning systems days before the floods and some people also complained about the slow response to the disaster.

“Thank you to everyone who came to help us, because from the authorities: nothing,” said Estrella Caceres, 66, furious, speaking to AFP.

(With contribution from agencies)