An angry mob of protesters shouted “murderer” and “shame” at the Spanish royal couple as they walked through Paiporta, one of the towns hit hardest by the floods.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez was also targeted, with objects thrown at him, prompting his swift evacuation.
The floods have claimed more than 200 lives, marking the worst disaster of this kind in Spain in decades. Emergency responders continue to search car parks and tunnels, hoping to find survivors and recover bodies.
People are expressing anger over a perceived lack of warning and an inadequate response from authorities.
Video captured King Felipe VI navigating a pedestrian street, flanked by bodyguards who were soon overwhelmed by a crowd of protesters hurling insults and shouting.
The security team struggled to maintain a protective perimeter around the king as some protesters threw mud and other objects at them.
Despite the hostility, the king interacted with several individuals, even embracing some.
Images show mud covering the faces and clothing of King Felipe, Queen Letizia, and their entourage as they held umbrellas over the monarch while departing.
Queen Letizia was seen in tears during the visit to flood-ravaged Valencia.
Prime Minister Sánchez and Carlos Mazón, head of the Valencian regional government, joined the royals but were quickly evacuated as the crowd grew increasingly hostile.
Spanish media report that objects were thrown at Sánchez, and footage shows stones hitting his car as he was driven away. As Sánchez departed, the crowd chanted, “Where is Sánchez?”
“I’m just 16,” said Pau, a young boy who spoke to the media. “We’re helping, and the leaders do nothing. People are still dying. I can’t stand this anymore.”
A woman added, “They left us to die. We’ve lost everything—our businesses, our homes, our dreams.”
The civil guard and mounted officers were later seen attempting to disperse the angry crowd.
The royal visit was initially planned to include Chiva, another flood-affected town in Valencia province, but that part of the trip has been postponed.
In a video posted on the royal household’s Instagram, the king expressed his understanding of the “anger and frustration” felt by the protesters.
Maribel Albalat, the mayor of Paiporta, said she was shocked by the violence but understood “the frustration and desperation of the people.”
Juan Bordera, a Valencian parliament member, criticized the king’s visit, calling it “a very bad decision.”
Authorities “didn’t listen to any warnings,” Mr. Bordera told the media. “It’s understandable that people are angry; it’s understandable that they didn’t see why this visit was so urgent,” he added.
On Saturday, Sánchez ordered an additional 10,000 troops, police officers, and civil guards to the affected area.
He described this as Spain’s largest peacetime deployment, though he acknowledged that the response had “not been enough,” admitting to “serious problems and shortages.”
The floods began after intense rainfall on Tuesday, causing bridges to collapse and engulfing towns in thick mud.
Many communities were isolated, cut off from water, food, electricity, and other basic needs. As of Sunday, the death toll rose to 217, with many people still feared missing.
Most confirmed deaths have occurred in Valencia province along the Mediterranean coast.
Certain areas have been especially devastated. Paiporta, the town visited by the royal delegation, has reported at least 62 deaths.
Spain’s meteorological agency, AEMET, issued its highest alert level on Sunday for parts of southern Valencia, including Alzira, Cullera, and Gandia.
While more storms are forecast, they are expected to be less severe than those on Tuesday, with rainfall of around 90mm (3.45 inches) predicted.
