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Spaniards demonstration over handling of flood disaster

Tens of thousands of 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 most recent presentation over the floods, protesters filled the centre of Valencia requiring the resignation of local government leader Carlos Mazon and shouting Killers!.

Our hands are stained with mud, yours with blood, checked out one banner. Some demonstrators dumped muddy boots outside the council structure in demonstrations.

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

The Valencian leader has actually said he would have released an earlier alarm if main authorities including a main water keeping track of body had actually provided adequate information about the seriousness of the scenario.

Mazon did not respond to Reuters' requests for remark.

We wish to reveal our indignation and anger over the poor management of this catastrophe which has actually affected numerous people, said Anna Oliver, president of Accio Cultural del Pais Valenciano, one of about 30 groups that organised the demonstration.

The government put numbers at the rally around 130,000.

Following days of storm cautions 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 instance, Valencia University told its personnel on Oct. 28 not to come to work. A number of city center suspended activities, shut down public facilities and informed people to stay home.

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

Nearly 80 people are still missing in what is the most deadly deluge in a single European country given that floods in Portugal in 1967 eliminated around 500.

(source: Reuters)