Cuban YouTuber Anita Mateu, who has been residing in Galicia for the past two years, took to TikTok to express her deep admiration for the Spanish people's response following the devastating floods in Valencia. Her video, which had garnered over 14,300 likes and more than 600 comments at the time of writing, highlighted the "strength and solidarity" of ordinary citizens, in stark contrast to what she described as the government's delayed response, claiming they "do nothing."
Anita underscored how "ordinary civilians" took action to assist while authorities seemed absent. As a Cuban, she remarked she had never witnessed anything like it. "This should have been prevented with warnings, like advising people to stay home... Here, I don't know what happened, all that water just appeared out of nowhere," she explained, emphasizing the lack of preventive measures that left residents vulnerable.
Her call for unity and harsh criticism of politicians, stating that "no party cares about you," sparked a wave of responses from her followers. Many comments echoed support for Anita's message and pride in Spanish solidarity. One user noted, "We Spaniards are known for our extreme solidarity. We are made of different stuff when it comes to these things." Others thanked Anita for shedding light on the situation: "Thank you for your words, I'm from Valencia, and we will overcome," commented a touched follower.
Some pointed out that criticizing politicians reflects a widespread frustration among many Spaniards. "SPAIN would be a WORLD POWER if it weren't for the politicians," wrote one user, while another added, "Our governments don't represent us, they never have."
Comparisons with Cuba
Among the comments were Cubans drawing parallels between Spain's situation and their own country, following Anita's admission that "In Cuba, I've never seen anyone banging on politicians' cars. In Cuba, people are much more afraid of confronting authorities." A Cuban user also mentioned, "In Cuba, the military organizes better for a cyclone than these politicians here."
Anita's video has sparked a mix of gratitude, political reflection, and comparisons with emergency responses in other countries. Most agreed on one thing: "The people save the people."
Government Criticism and Public Outrage
Recent data reveals that the DANA, which hit Spain, particularly hard in the Valencian Community, resulted in at least 217 deaths and an unspecified number of missing persons. Most victims were recorded in Valencia province, with 202 confirmed deaths, while Castilla-La Mancha reported three fatalities and one in Málaga. Authorities continue search and rescue operations, especially in towns like Paiporta, where 40 deaths have been confirmed, including six in a nursing home.
The situation has provoked outrage among many citizens who criticize both the pre-disaster foresight and the government's subsequent response. During this weekend's visit by Pedro Sánchez and the Spanish Royals to Paiporta, they were met with boos and insults. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia faced a barrage of criticism and attacks amid protests from citizens outraged by the ongoing situation six days after the catastrophe. The entourage, which included President Pedro Sánchez and the President of the Generalitat Valenciana, Carlos Mazón, was met with shouts of "murderers" and "out, out!" as some protesters hurled mud in a display of rejection.