Salomé Pradas, who previously served as the Minister of the Interior and Justice in the Valencian Community, has revealed unexpected details about the events of October 29, 2024. On that day, the region was hit by a powerful DANA—an atmospheric front that caused widespread flooding and a state of emergency. According to Pradas, at the height of the crisis she was instructed not to disturb the president of the autonomous community, Carlos Mazón.
According to the former official, the order came around 2 p.m. from Mazón’s chief of staff, José Manuel Cuenca. While regional services were dealing with the aftermath of the disaster, the president was at the restaurant El Ventorro. Despite the direct order, Pradas decided to act on her own judgment, believing the situation required immediate response and coordination at the highest level.
Critical hours: Why was the president unavailable?
Pradas said she tried to contact Mazón to discuss activating the emergency alert system for the population. However, according to her, the president did not answer her calls. She was unable to deliver information about the need to send emergency messages to Valencia residents. Later, Mazón explained his absence by claiming that his phone was supposedly in his backpack and he did not hear the calls.
These details became the subject of discussion at a parliamentary commission, where the regional leader had previously claimed he was unable to take calls due to technical reasons. However, Pradas’s statement casts doubt on the official account of events and raises new questions about how decisions were made during those critical moments.
The chief of staff’s role and surprising coincidences
Particular attention was drawn to the role of José Manuel Cuenca, who relayed the instruction to Pradas not to disturb the president. On the same day, as it turned out, Cuenca organized a business lunch with a journalist in Valencia. This coincidence sparked additional suspicions about the leadership’s priorities at a time when the region needed swift action.
Pradas emphasized that despite the pressure, she made the decision to act independently. Her main objective was to ensure the safety of residents and promptly activate the alert system. According to her, this step was motivated solely by a sense of responsibility toward the public.
Public outcry and new questions for the authorities
The former advisor’s revelations generated widespread public reaction. Many local residents and opposition figures expressed concern over the leadership’s behavior during such a difficult time. The question of why the president was unreachable remains unanswered to this day.
This entire story has become the central topic of the new episode of Salvados on La Sexta. The broadcast is scheduled for Sunday, November 30, at 9:35 p.m. The studio is expected to reveal new details and comments from those involved, which could shed light on the true reasons behind the events.
