In Catarroja, located in the province of Valencia, the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the massive flood that occurred in the autumn of 2024 is ongoing. Judge Nuria Ruiz Tobarra, who is overseeing the case, has asked journalist Maribel Vilaplana to provide a parking receipt, which could confirm the time she spent near the president of the autonomous community, Carlos Mazón, on the day of the natural disaster.
The question regarding the exact time of the meeting arose after a lawyer representing several of the victims insisted on the need for additional evidence. According to the investigation, Vilaplana and Mazón spent nearly four hours together at one of the establishments while the city and its surroundings were hit by heavy rains and flooding. Investigators want to confirm whether the journalist was indeed with the regional leader during that time and whether she could possibly have been unaware of what was happening in the city.
The judge has demanded that Vilaplana bring not only the parking receipt to court, but also any other documents that may confirm her whereabouts that day. This could include a bank statement, security camera footage, or other evidence that might shed light on the details of the meeting. Importantly, the journalist is being called as a witness and is therefore required to testify truthfully under oath.
The flood case in Valencia has sparked widespread public outcry. Many local residents are still struggling to recover from the disaster’s aftermath, and the authorities’ actions that day have come under scrutiny. Investigators are trying to determine whether mistakes were made in providing assistance to victims and how promptly officials responded. Details such as the time and place of the meeting between Mazón and Vilaplana could prove crucial in piecing together the complete sequence of events.
