The court in Catarroja is continuing its investigation into the handling of the emergency during the devastating DANA that struck the Comunitat Valenciana on October 29, 2024. On that day, torrential rains and flash floods claimed 230 lives, putting the authorities’ actions under intense scrutiny. The presiding judge has sent an official request to the region’s legal counsel to determine whether senior officials sought advice on the legality and advisability of imposing restrictions on the population at that critical moment.
During the investigation, authorities examined messenger exchanges between former emergency advisor Salomé Pradas and other high-ranking officials. These messages discussed the possibility of including information about a potential lockdown in the official Es Alert notification. The judge is also checking whether a request for legal assessment was submitted that day by then presidential secretary Cayetano García. All these details may prove crucial to understanding how decisions were made in the midst of the disaster.
Requests to other regions
At the request of representatives from the civic organization Acció Cultural del País Valencià (ACPV), acting as the prosecution, the judge reached out to the Directorate for Emergency Situations and Meteorology of the Gobierno vasco. They have been asked to provide a report on calls received at the 112 emergency number in the Euskadi region that were redirected from the Valencian Community on the day of the tragedy. Additionally, the court requests audio recordings of those calls for further analysis and possible inclusion in the case files.
This step could shed light on how coordination between different autonomous regions was carried out and how effectively the alert and emergency response systems worked. Investigators aim to determine if timely measures were taken to inform and protect the public, as well as how responsibilities were shared among various bodies.
Limitations of the investigation
At the same time, the judge rejected several other motions filed by the prosecution. In particular, these concerned requests for records of phone calls and messenger app messages between the lehendakari and the then-president of the Valencian Community. According to the court, these contacts were unrelated to the period when key decisions on civilian protection were made and therefore cannot be used in the current investigation.
Thus, the investigation is focused exclusively on actions and communications that could have influenced the course of events on the day of the disaster itself. Judicial authorities are continuing to gather evidence to determine whether any mistakes or violations were made by officials in their response to the emergency.
Next steps
The investigation into the October 29, 2024 tragedy is ongoing. The judge is awaiting detailed clarification from the Valencia government’s legal department regarding all requests and consultations that may have taken place on the day of the DANA. In addition, materials from the Basque Country are expected soon, which could add to the picture of events.
It is still unclear whether the new information will lead to charges against specific individuals or a broader list of suspects. However, it is clear that the court intends to thoroughly review all circumstances relating to the authorities’ actions at this critical moment in order to objectively assess their decisions and their possible consequences for the region’s residents.
