Cuban YouTuber Anita Mateu, who has been living in Galicia for the past two years, shared her deep impression on TikTok regarding the response of the Spanish people following the recent floods in Valencia.
In her video, which at the time of this note had amassed over 14.3 thousand likes and more than 600 comments, the young woman expressed her admiration for the "strength and solidarity" of the citizens, in contrast to the delayed response of the Spanish government, which she said "does nothing." The influencer highlighted how "ordinary civilians" took the initiative to help, while the authorities seemed absent.
Anita commented that, as a Cuban, she had never seen anything like it. “They should have avoided this by warning us, saying to stay home… I don’t know what happened here, that all that water just appeared out of nowhere,” she explained, referring to the lack of preventive notices that left residents exposed. The influencer called for unity and harshly criticized the politicians, stating that “no party cares about you,” which sparked numerous reactions among her followers.
The comments reflected widespread support for Anita's message, as well as a sense of pride in Spanish solidarity. Some users reiterated the sentiment that “only the people can save the people,” with one of them noting, “The Spanish are known for being extremely supportive. We are cut from a different cloth when it comes to these matters.” Others expressed their gratitude to Anita for bringing attention to the situation: “Thank you for your words, I’m from Valencia and we will move forward,” commented an emotional follower.
There were also those who noted that criticism of politicians reflects a common frustration among many Spaniards. "SPAIN would be a WORLD POWER if it weren’t for the politicians," wrote one user, while another stated, "Our governments do not represent us; they never have."
Among the messages, some Cubans also compared the situation in Spain with that of their homeland after Anita confessed, "I had never seen anything like hitting the car [of the politicians] in Cuba. In Cuba, people are much more afraid to confront the authorities." Additionally, a Cuban user remarked, "In Cuba, the military is better organized for a cyclone than these politicians here."
The response to Anita's video has been a mosaic of gratitude, reflections on politics, and even comparisons with other countries in emergency situations. Most people agreed on one thing: "The people save the people."
According to the most recent data, the DANA that affected Spain, particularly severely in the Valencia Community, has resulted in at least 217 deaths and an indeterminate number of missing persons. Most of the victims were recorded in the province of Valencia, with 202 confirmed fatalities, while Castilla-La Mancha reported three deaths and one more in Málaga. Authorities continue search and rescue efforts, especially in municipalities like Paiporta, where 40 fatalities have been confirmed, including six in a nursing home.
The situation has sparked outrage among many citizens who criticize both the pre-disaster planning and the government's subsequent response. This weekend, during the visit of Pedro Sánchez and the Royals to Paiporta, they were met with boos and insults. Both King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia faced a torrent of criticism and attacks amid protests from citizens indignant about the ongoing situation six days after the catastrophe. The entourage, which also included President Pedro Sánchez and President of the Generalitat Valenciana, Carlos Mazón, was greeted with shouts of "murderers" and "get out, get out!" while some threw mud in a gesture of rejection.
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