'Blood on his hands' Valencians demand justice one year after devastating floods left hundreds dead

The endless, sticky mud that coated the streets of Valencia, sucking at the boots of survivors, is gone. But one year on, lingering evidence of the worst natural disaster to befall Spain this century is everywhere.

- Sam Jones

Walk through the still-doorless entrance to a block of flats in the Benetússer area, on the southern outskirts of the city, and there is a small sign on the wall, positioned 2.5 metres (8ft) above the floor. It states: "The flood waters rose this high on 29 October 2024."

A sticker on the building, one of many around here and beyond, shows the regional president, Carlos Mazón, smiling and holding out his bloodstained hands.

As parts of the wider Valencia region were flooded by the torrential downpours that in some areas brought a year's worth of rainfall in eight hours, and as people were drowning in their cars, homes and garages, Mazón, a member of the conservative People's party (PP), was having a four-hour lunch with a journalist.

By the time his administration sent an emergency alert to mobile phones at 8.11pm that day, most of the disaster's victims were already dead. The flood killed 229 people in Valencia, seven in neighbouring Castilla-La Mancha and one person in Andalucía. According to government figures, nearly 60,000 homes, about 105,000 cars and more than 10,000 shops were damaged or destroyed.

The fury many feel towards Mazón is evident in the sticker's slogan: "Mud on our [hands]. Blood on his." The two words below it require no translation: "Mazón criminal".

That rage was apparent on Saturday, when more than 50,000 people marched through Valencia in the latest protest demanding his resignation. A poll this month found that 75% of Valencians believe Mazón should quit.

The catastrophe laid bare Spain's extreme vulnerability to the climate crisis and showed how politicised the issue has become.

The PP, which has so far stood by Mazón, has accused Spain's prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, of trying to use the climate preparation plan to cover up the slew of corruption allegations surrounding his family, government and party.