Valencia Leader Carlos Mazon Defends Flood Response

Carlos Mazon, the leader of Spain's Valencia region, has faced intense scrutiny over his handling of catastrophic floods that resulted in over 200 deaths. In a speech to regional lawmakers, he defended his actions as being the best possible response to an unprecedented natural disaster while acknowledging failures and seeking forgiveness. Amid public outrage, Mazon rejected calls for his resignation, attributing some responsibility to a national agency that failed to provide adequate warnings. Protests erupted outside the assembly, with citizens chanting demands for accountability and criticizing Mazon for his perceived negligence during a lengthy lunch on the day of the floods. He has promised a public inquiry into the disaster management by both regional and national authorities. The crisis has left 16 individuals still missing, with ongoing searches continuing in the affected areas.