A heated debate erupted in the Valencia Cortes assembly hall, sparked by the aftermath of the devastating floods that struck the region at the end of October last year. The head of the regional government, Carlos Mazón, could not hide his irony when he addressed the head of the meteorological service’s climatology department, José Ángel Núñez, calling him the ‘chief rain officer.’ According to Mazón, a lack of timely information about the approaching disaster was one of the reasons behind the tragedy that claimed 229 lives.
In response, meteorological service representatives emphasized that warnings about potentially dangerous rainfall had been issued in advance. The head of the local division, Jorge Tamayo, noted that the red alert was declared on time, and Núñez’s professionalism is beyond question. Nonetheless, public debate continues over who is responsible for the inadequate preparation for the catastrophe.
Mazón also did not spare the head of the water authority, Miguel Polo, whom he sarcastically dubbed the ‘chief ravine officer.’ Both government agencies came under criticism from the regional administration for allegedly failing to provide timely information on the scale of the looming threat. Meanwhile, meteorologists insist their main task is to warn of risks, and that any further action must be coordinated by local authorities.
During the investigation, it emerged that the emergency crisis meeting was not convened until after lunch, by which time the situation was already out of control. According to Núñez, the public did not receive adequate warnings in the morning hours, which could have saved lives. Tamayo added that the red alert level remained in place until the evening, and the forecasts did not anticipate such a severe impact on Valencia itself or the airport. Shortly after the tragedy, a recording surfaced online of a conversation between meteorological specialists and emergency services, in which they discussed that the peak of the storm was expected around midday and the situation would only get worse.
As a result of the tragedy in Valencia, not only were there destruction and losses, but also pressing questions about the alert system and coordination between services. The public is demanding answers, while officials and experts continue to shift responsibility, reluctant to acknowledge their own mistakes.
