On Monday morning, dozens of people gathered at the Catarroja courthouse to hear Maribel Vilaplana — a journalist and key witness — testify about the day the most devastating dana in Valencia’s history struck. In October 2024, the disaster claimed 229 lives, and the actions of regional leader Carlos Mazón became the focus of public scrutiny.
Vilaplana, who had lunch that day with Mazón at the El Ventorro restaurant, gave a detailed account of how the regional president spent almost four hours receiving calls and messages, periodically stepping away to a separate table to talk. She recalled that during the meal, he was brought an envelope to sign some documents and was also asked for permission to pass on his car’s license plate number, which was parked in the Glorieta Paz lot. According to her, Mazón left the meeting from there.
The trial has sparked intense reactions among the families of the victims. One mother who lost her son confronted Vilaplana at the courthouse entrance, demanding full disclosure and justice. Despite the emotional pressure, the journalist insisted that she has no personal ties to Mazón and appeared only to share what she witnessed.
Key details from the interrogation
The court session began at 9:30 a.m. Vilaplana was required to answer questions from the judge, the prosecutor, and lawyers for both the prosecution and defense. Particular attention was given to how Mazón responded to news of the flooding, what orders he gave to former adviser Salomé Pradas and ex-emergency services director Emilio Argüeso, and why Vilaplana’s statements about the time she left the restaurant changed over the past year.
Initially, the journalist claimed she left El Ventorro around 5:30 p.m., but now stated that it actually happened closer to 6:45 p.m. She also noted that the president did not appear concerned about the situation, despite the alarming reports coming in.
The role of the court and next steps
Vilaplana’s appearance in court became possible only after the Valencia provincial court required the judge to accept her testimony. Previously, the judge had refused to hear the journalist, arguing that only the region’s High Court could investigate Mazón.
Now that the witness testimony has been collected, the court must assess whether the head of the region acted in line with his responsibilities during the crisis. The focus is not only on Mazón’s personal accountability, but also on the conduct of his closest associates who made key decisions during critical hours.
The proceedings are expected to continue with the questioning of other participants, as well as an examination of new evidence that may emerge following Vilaplana’s testimony. The victims’ families hope the court will uncover the truth and provide answers to questions that concern all of Valencia.
