‘Mud on our hands; blood on his’: fury lingers one year after Spain’s deadly floods

<p>Survivors in Valencia call for consequences, particularly for regional president, after country’s worst natural disaster this century</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/oct/31/why-were-the-floods-in-spain-so-bad-a-visual-guide">Why were the floods in Spain so bad? A visual guide</a></p></li></ul><p>The endless, sticky mud that coated the streets of Valencia, sucking at the boots of survivors and residents, is gone now. As are the jumbles of wrecked cars and the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/21/spain-valencia-paiporta-picanya-anger-floods">mountains of sodden, ruined belongings</a> that had begun to stink in the humid coastal air.</p><p>But one year on, lingering evidence of the worst natural disaster to befall Spain this century is everywhere. Walk through the gaping, still-doorless entrance to a block of flats in the Benetússer neighbourhood, 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 reads: “The flood waters rose this high on 29 October 2024.”</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/28/spain-deadly-floods-valencia-one-year-after-survivors-carlos-mazon">Continue reading...</a>