Valencia Investigation Reveals Flood Alert Was Delayed for Several Hours. The investigation into the October disaster in Valencia is ongoing. Authorities and emergency services are under scrutiny, with particular focus on the delay in issuing a mass alert to residents. The inquiry is seeking those responsible for the increase in casualties.
An investigation is ongoing in the Valencian Community regarding the events that took place in October last year, when a powerful natural disaster claimed the lives of hundreds. New details have emerged in court: it has been revealed that residents received a warning about the impending danger with a significant delay.
A fire department officer testified in court that information about the critical water level in Barranco del Poyo was relayed to the region’s emergency services as early as 17:30. However, a mass alert to mobile phones was not sent until after 20:00, by which time the situation was already out of control and the number of casualties and missing persons continued to rise by the minute. According to the investigation, this delay may have contributed to the increased number of victims.
According to the duty officer, firefighters finished monitoring the water level in the ravine about an hour and a half before the tragedy, following instructions from the coordination center. The crew left the site, believing their task was complete, and did not receive further orders to remain on duty or continue monitoring. It was later revealed that the decision to stop observation was based on vague instructions and that no more detailed oversight had been organized.
After the firefighters left, emergency services began receiving dozens of calls within a short period from residents of Cheste and Chiva, where the water overflowed and flooded homes and garages. The court also heard that prior to the tragedy, no additional inspections of the ravine's condition were carried out, and coordination between various services was lacking. Emergency service leaders and former officials responsible for safety are now under investigation for alleged negligence that may have led to loss of life.
On the political front, the situation has sparked a storm of outrage. Opposition representatives are demanding explanations from the government and accuse it of withholding information and acting ineffectively during a critical moment. In particular, questions have been raised about why those responsible for monitoring hazardous areas were sent home as the disaster approached. In response, authorities cite existing protocols and claim they acted in accordance with instructions, but the public is calling for a more transparent investigation and accountability for those responsible.
