The catastrophic flood in Valencia on October 29, 2024, left 231 dead. Testimony from the driver of Salomé Pradas highlights confusion and delayed alerts. Authorities' crisis management is now under judicial review.
The devastating flood that struck Valencia on October 29, 2024, resulting in 231 fatalities, continues to raise questions about the official response. New testimony from the driver of Salomé Pradas, then the regional Minister of Justice and Interior, has brought fresh attention to the sequence of decisions and the atmosphere inside the crisis command on that day.
According to statements made before the judge in Catarroja, the driver described chaotic scenes as he transported Pradas across the region. He recalled encountering a tornado shortly after it passed, witnessing roofs being torn from buildings, and following emergency vehicles into the hardest-hit areas. The driver picked up Pradas at 8:00 a.m. from the Palau de la Generalitat, beginning a day that would not end until midnight.
After a Consell meeting where Pradas warned President Carlos Mazón about the risk of flooding, the driver took her to the 112 Emergency Center in L’Eliana. That center received nearly 20,000 calls for help during the disaster. At 2:00 p.m., they traveled to Carlet, a municipality left devastated by the floodwaters, moving behind fire and police units as the situation unfolded.
The testimony also highlighted a critical delay in the mass alert system. The Es Alert, a mobile emergency notification, was only sent at 20:11, by which time most of the missing were already presumed dead. The driver recounted encountering another tornado and seeing building structures airborne during the return to L’Eliana, where crisis coordination was underway.
Inside the Cecopi crisis center, representatives from over twenty institutions gathered to manage the emergency. The driver received distressing videos from Paiporta, where 55 people lost their lives and where he had family. He noted uncertainty about Pradas’s actions during this period, unable to confirm whether she was making calls or expressing concern.
The driver stated he did not see President Mazón’s driver enter Cecopi. Mazón himself arrived at 20:28, 17 minutes after the Es Alert was issued, following a lengthy lunch and a walk in Valencia. The day ended with the driver dropping Pradas at a hotel in the city, as confirmed in court.
Spain has faced several severe weather events in recent years, but the 2024 Valencia flood stands out for its scale and the scrutiny of official actions. The judicial investigation, led by Judge Nuria Ruiz Tobarra, is focusing on the timing of alerts, the coordination between agencies, and the decisions made by key officials. The case has highlighted the importance of rapid communication and clear protocols during natural disasters. According to data from the Spanish Meteorological Agency, extreme weather events have become more frequent, prompting calls for improved emergency systems. The outcome of this investigation may influence future crisis management policies across Spain.
