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Thousands oppose over handling of Spanish flood disaster

Countless individuals shown in the eastern Spanish city of Valencia on Saturday over regional authorities' handling of devastating floods that eliminated more than 220 individuals in among Europe's worst natural catastrophes for years.

In the current presentation over the floods, protesters filled the centre of Valencia requiring the resignation of regional federal government leader Carlos Mazon and chanting Killers!.

Our hands are stained with mud, yours with blood, read one banner. Some demonstrators disposed muddy boots outside the council building in demonstrations.

Residents in stricken areas accuse Mazon of issuing an alert too late, at 8 p.m. on Oct. 29, well after water was currently pouring into many neighboring towns and towns.

The Valencian leader has stated he would have issued an earlier alarm previously if authorities had been alerted of the seriousness of the circumstance by an official water tracking body. Mazon did not react to Reuters' ask for comment.

We want to reveal our indignation and anger over the bad management of this catastrophe which has actually affected many people, stated Anna Oliver, president of Accio Cultural del Pais Valenciano, among about 30 groups that organised the protest.

Following days of storm warnings from the nationwide weather service from Oct. 25 onward, some municipalities and regional bodies raised the alarm much earlier than the regional federal government.

For example, Valencia University informed its personnel on Oct. 28 not to come to work. A number of town halls suspended activities, closed down public centers and informed individuals to stay at home.

Weather service AEMET raised its threat level for heavy rains in the area to a red alert at 7:36 a.m. on Oct. 29.

Almost 80 individuals are still missing in what is one of the most fatal deluge in a single European country because floods in Portugal in 1967 killed around 500.

(source: Reuters)