The official death toll from the catastrophic dana that struck Valencia on October 29, 2024, rose to 231 after a judicial decision. Judge Nuria Ruiz Tobarra, who is leading the investigation in Catarroja, added the death of an elderly man from Benetússer, who suffered a fatal heart attack during the night of the disaster. The decision was communicated in a court order on Monday.
The latest addition followed a recommendation by the Public Prosecutor’s Office to include the man’s death in the case. Forensic analysis could not definitively link the heart attack to the storm, but identified the acute stress of the event as a impressive contributing factor. The judge said the extreme circumstances of the dana, combined with the victim’s pre-existing health condition, led to his death at home as flooding unfolded outside.
The figure of 231 reflects the count at the time of that decision. The judicially recognized toll later reached 233 after additional disaster-related deaths were added to the case. One was a woman who died almost a month after the floods from an intracranial hemorrhage following a fall when water entered her home. The updated figure covers deaths in Valencia province and reflects how the court has treated fatalities linked to the disaster.
The decision reversed an earlier move to close the investigation into the man’s death. The case brings related fatalities together in a single probe examining potential offenses, including negligent homicide and causing injury. More than 500 witnesses have testified since the inquiry began 19 months ago, underscoring the scale of the judicial process.
Among those under investigation are Salomé Pradas, former regional minister for Justice and Interior, and Emilio Argüeso, who served as director general of Emergencies during the disaster. Judge Ruiz Tobarra has said there are “clear indications” that Pradas and Argüeso might have prevented deaths. The inquiry examines emergency management, including how officials understood their responsibilities and the wording and timing of the Es-Alert warning. These are investigative findings, not criminal convictions.
The timing of the mobile alert remains a basic issue. Catarroja Mayor Lorena Silvent testified that the Es-Alert sent at 20:11 on October 29 was not useful in her municipality because the commercial district was already flooded and people had taken refuge at the town hall. The deaths of 13 people in La Torre have also been examined in connection with alleged negligence and delayed warnings.
Argüeso has appealed a judicial order issued on October 13 concerning the La Torre deaths. His defense argues that the order infringes his rights to a defense and the presumption of innocence. It also says he lacked authority to convene CECOPI, the emergency coordination body. The appeal disputes both the attribution of responsibility and the allocation of emergency powers.
The judge also sought to extend the investigation to former president Carlos Mazón, but the Superior Court of Justice of the Valencian Community (TSJCV) declined, citing his parliamentary immunity. Mazón remains involved in the proceedings through his legal counsel, Ignacio Gally.
The October 2024 dana was one of the deadliest weather events in recent Spanish history, causing widespread flooding and impressive loss of life across the Valencia region. The judicial investigation focuses on regional authorities’ actions and preparedness, along with the adequacy of emergency response measures. Its examination of deaths indirectly linked to the disaster, including medical events associated with the storm, reflects the court’s assessment of the disaster’s consequences.
Spain has faced several major disasters in recent years, prompting debate over emergency planning and official responsibility. The difficulties of managing mass-casualty events were also evident during the Los Gallardos wildfire in Almería, where evacuation errors led to multiple fatalities among foreign residents. For more on how authorities have responded to such crises, see this report on the deadly wildfire evacuation in Almería.
The outcome of the Catarroja investigation may shape future cases involving extreme weather and public safety. As the region continues to recover, the findings are likely to influence policy and public expectations about disaster management in Spain.
