Political tensions in Valencia have escalated as Compromís prepares a criminal complaint against Vicent Mompó, president of the Diputación de València and head of the provincial PP, for allegedly giving false testimony about the management of the October 2024 dana disaster. The move follows statements by Compromís spokespersons Joan Baldoví and Dolors Gimeno, who say Mompó misled the court about his role in the emergency response. Any criminal complaint would be separate from the judge’s ongoing investigation into the emergency response.
The controversy centers on Mompó’s latest appearance before the judge investigating the deadly dana, which killed 230 people in Valencia, information from the article. The court order issued by Judge Nuria Tobarra cites evidence that contradicts Mompó’s claim that the Cecopi emergency committee discussed the risks posed by the Forata dam, but not the Poyo ravine, whose overflow the article links to 198 fatalities. The judge highlighted testimony from Torrent’s PP mayor, Amparo Folgado, who documented a phone call with Mompó at 18:38 on the day of the disaster. She warned him about the critical situation and the overflowing Horteta ravine, a tributary of the Poyo.
The timing of the flooding helps explain the dispute over what officials knew and when. Water reached Paiporta at about 19:12. Around 19:40, it struck Benetússer and Catarroja, as well as Alfafar and Sedaví. The ES-Alert warning went out at 20:11, after flooding had already devastated communities across l’Horta Sud. The alert’s timing and the handling of information about the Poyo ravine remain basic to judicial and political scrutiny of the response.
Amparo Fort, then PP mayor of Chiva, reportedly alerted provincial fire deputy Avelino Mascarell, who was with Mompó in Cecopi, about the Poyo ravine’s dangerous state earlier that afternoon. Despite these warnings, Mompó told the court he did not recall the calls or the information relayed by his fire deputy. The judge questioned the credibility of his testimony and summoned him again as a witness on June 30.
How information moved through Cecopi has also become a focus of the judicial inquiry. Former deputy director-general of Emergencies Jorge Suárez testified that he learned about the Poyo situation only from around 19:00, and that information about incoming 112 calls did not reach Cecopi. He said the draft warning for municipalities downstream of the Forata reservoir initially told people to remain at home, but was changed to advise them to suspend travel. Suárez said the warning addressed a possible reservoir break and did not necessarily cover the separate threat from the Poyo ravine.
Compromís leaders have stepped up their criticism, demanding Mompó’s immediate resignation over what they call a deliberate attempt to shield himself and his party from accountability. They accuse him of repeatedly denying knowledge of basic events, both in court and during parliamentary inquiries, despite being present in Cecopi throughout the crisis. Dolors Gimeno said Compromís had already submitted a motion in the Diputación to force Mompó’s resignation, citing a pattern of evasive and misleading statements over the past two years.
Mompó was not a permanent member of Cecopi, but took an active part in the emergency response. He initially received positive coverage for his visible presence in affected towns and for reportedly urging the rapid deployment of the Es-Alert system. Conflicting accounts from local mayors and his shifting statements have since brought renewed scrutiny. Joan Baldoví suggested Mompó’s actions may be shaped by his ambitions within the PP as he positions himself for a potential run for the Generalitat presidency. Baldoví said his conduct disrespects the victims and the broader Valencian community.
This case is the latest in a series of high-profile legal and political disputes involving Spanish officials and their handling of crises. Recent coverage has highlighted how other political figures, including María Jesús Montero, have faced public and legal challenges over their roles in separate investigations. One example is the widening SEPI scandal, which has drawn national attention to oversight and public trust.
The outcome of the Compromís complaint and the ongoing judicial inquiry could have impressive implications for political accountability in Valencia. The October 2024 dana remains one of the deadliest natural disasters in recent Spanish history, and the handling of its aftermath continues to shape the region’s political field. Victims’ organizations continue to press for accountability, keeping warning times and the handling of information at Cecopi in public debate, alongside questions of political responsibility. As the investigation proceeds, attention will turn to the testimony and evidence presented in court, and to whether further resignations or legal action follow.
