On Monday, the court in Catarroja held hearings on the devastating flood that claimed 229 lives in October 2024. This time, journalist Mariel Vilaplana testified as a witness—she had lunch that day with the head of the autonomous community, Carlos Mazón. Despite four hours of questioning, the key moments of that tragic evening remain unclear.
Disappearance mystery: what happened in those critical minutes
One of the most pressing questions remains: where was the president during the 37 minutes when all contact with him was lost? Vilaplana confirmed that she met with Mazón at around three in the afternoon, and after lunch together, he walked her to the parking lot at approximately 6:30–6:45 p.m. However, from 6:57 to 7:34 p.m., the president neither made nor received any calls. He only arrived at his residence by eight in the evening and reached the Emergency Response Center even later—by which time most of the victims had already been found.
This period of time remains a mystery. Neither the journalist herself nor the details she provided have clarified where the regional leader was or what he was doing during those minutes, as the situation in the province was rapidly deteriorating.
Inconsistencies in testimony and shifting accounts
Discrepancies have emerged in Vilaplana’s statements. Over the past year, she changed details of her story three times: at first, she claimed to have parted ways with Mazón at 17:45, then mentioned a later time, and after being summoned to court clarified that he accompanied her to her car. She also emphasized that she entered the parking area alone and, out of habit, parked her car on the second level.
There are also questions about why, at different times, she described the president’s whereabouts after their meeting inconsistently. These contradictions only add to the suspicions and fuel interest in the investigation.
Details of the meeting and oddities in behavior
During the lunch, which lasted around four hours, Mazón signed documents received from the restaurant owner and was getting messages about the flood in the family chat. However, according to Vilaplana, she paid no attention to the alarming news and never opened the link with more details. During this period, the president asked to change from his jacket to a sweater — it was in this outfit that he was later seen at the Emergency Management Center.
The journalist also said that the meeting was business-related: she was offered an executive position at the regional TV station, which she declined. In addition, she advised Mazón on issues related to public speaking.
Football talk and ignored calls
Particular attention was drawn to a conversation as they left the restaurant. Vilaplana recalled discussing football with the president and inviting him to a match while he was no longer answering calls from those responsible for emergency situations. At that critical moment for the region, the head of the autonomy chose to continue the informal chat instead of getting in touch with his colleagues.
All these details revealed in court not only failed to clarify the picture but raised new questions. The public and investigators are still searching for answers: where was the president during those crucial minutes, and why do his actions remain shrouded in mystery?
