On Saturday, around 100,000 people marched in Valencia to protest the authorities' handling of the devastating floods that hit the eastern region of Spain, leading to 230 deaths. The protest comes one month after the October 29 catastrophe, the deadliest in Spain in a generation. Demonstrators criticized both the central and regional governments for their delayed and inadequate response to the disaster, which caused widespread destruction, including the loss of homes, businesses, and cars.

Chanting slogans calling for the resignation or imprisonment of Valencian leader Carlos Mazon, who is accused of raising the alarm too late, the protesters marched through the city center. Many carried banners demanding accountability from government officials, with some focusing on the lack of timely aid and resources for the affected areas. Raquel Ferrandis, a teacher from one of the hardest-hit towns, criticized the incompetence of the officials involved, stating that many of those responsible for the inadequate response were still being paid despite their failure.

The regional government’s response was especially criticized for delayed emergency alerts and failure to provide necessary resources, leaving some municipalities relying on volunteers for basic supplies and cleanup. Maribel Peralta, a resident of Valencia, expressed her anger at the lack of support for those who lost their homes and businesses. "The aid is not coming," she said, highlighting the ongoing struggles of affected families.

The protest also targeted the central government under socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, accusing them of failing to intervene decisively when the disaster struck. While disaster management is primarily the responsibility of regional governments in Spain’s decentralized system, the central government has the authority to intervene with resources or assume control in extreme situations. Demonstrators criticized the late alert issued by the Valencia regional government, which came 12 hours after Spain's weather agency had issued the highest-level warning for rain and floods.

Many in the crowd, like Juan Carlos Ribes, believed that timely warnings and proper preparedness could have prevented or minimized the damage. The march was a strong expression of public anger and a call for accountability from both regional and national authorities.