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Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia returned to the flood-hit city of Chiva on Tuesday, weeks after their first visit which angered survivors who pelted them with mud.
Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia returned to the flood-hit city of Chiva on Tuesday, weeks after their first visit which angered survivors who pelted them with mud.
This time, the welcome was calmer: handshakes and photo opportunities punctuated their visit alongside a government minister and the head of the Valencia region.
Chiva, devastated by the floods of October 29, saw two of its four bridges destroyed and its houses swept away by the torrential waters. The disaster claimed the lives of 227 people and displaced thousands more in the Valencia region.
During the first royal visit to Paiporta, another affected area, tensions ran high, with residents expressing frustration at the poor management of the crisis.
Three weeks later, recovery efforts continue as survivors rebuild their lives in the aftermath of the tragedy.