A high-profile investigation into the Valencia disaster, where 230 people died in October 2024, is reaching a new stage. A judge from Catarroja has decided to appeal to the region’s highest court, requesting that former regional president Carlos Mazón be held accountable. The reason is the leadership’s actions and decisions during the critical hours of the tragedy, which investigators believe may have influenced the death toll.
The significance of this case for Spaniards is clear: it concerns trust in the alert system and the authorities’ ability to respond to threats. According to El Pais, the judge stressed she does not intend to drag out the proceedings and will continue to summon witnesses to determine how decisions were made during those rapidly deteriorating hours.
Key testimony
During the hearings, Francisco González, who oversaw communications in the Mazón administration, testified in court. He said that two hours before a mass warning about the impending danger was sent, he received a call from then-head of the justice and interior department Salomé Pradas. She informed him of the seriousness of the situation and asked him to contact regional television to stop the spread of false information on social media. At that point, he noted, the city of Utiel was already experiencing severe consequences from the disaster.
Although the authorities were aware of the scale of the disaster, a mass alert through the Es-Alert system was sent to residents’ mobile phones only at 20:11. By this time, most of those missing could no longer be saved. This fact became a key point in the investigation, as prosecutors believe that the delay in warning the public may have led to such a high death toll.
Reaction and debates
During the hearing, the lawyer representing one of the former senior officials involved in the case requested that the proceedings be suspended until the issue of Mazón’s liability was resolved. The judge denied the request, emphasizing that the investigation would continue regardless of the status of the individuals involved.
Recalling the events of that day, González noted that since the morning he had maintained contact with Pradas to prepare a press conference and collect up-to-date information about the situation. The authorities urged caution, but as it later turned out, these measures were not enough to prevent the tragedy. In a similar situation, as reported in a RUSSPAIN.COM report on delayed flood alerts, emergency service workers also pointed out delays in informing the public, which provoked a wave of criticism against officials.
Regional consequences
The court proceedings over the tragedy in Valencia have become one of the most talked-about cases in Spain in recent years. Questions about the alert system and the actions of regional authorities remain at the forefront. According to El Pais, the judge intends to question dozens more witnesses to determine who made the key decisions and when on that day.
Many local residents are still demanding explanations for why the warning about the approaching danger arrived so late. Authorities have promised to conduct internal audits and review emergency response protocols. However, public distrust of the alert system persists, and the investigation is ongoing.
In recent years, Spain has faced several major natural disasters, with the issue of timely public warnings coming to the fore. For example, the 2022 flood in Murcia also triggered a wave of criticism over delays in informing residents. Afterwards, authorities tightened controls on emergency alert systems, but the tragedy in Valencia revealed ongoing problems. Experts note that preventing such incidents requires not only technical upgrades but also clear coordination between departments.
