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Judge Narrows DANA Flood Inquiry to Regional Emergency Response

Local mayors exonerated, focus shifts to Generalitat's handling of alerts and crisis management.

El alcalde de Utiel, Ricardo Gabaldón, en el centro sonriendo, en una imagen captada en la primera reunión del Cecopi con alcaldes, el 21 de enero.
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Overview

  • Judge Nuria Ruiz Tobarra has cleared local mayors of responsibility for the October 2024 DANA floods, citing a lack of precise information provided by the Generalitat.
  • The investigation now centers on the Generalitat Valenciana's emergency officials and the delayed, flawed ES Alert system, which failed to warn the population in time.
  • Regional emergency authorities had access to extensive information from meteorological and hydrological agencies but allegedly failed to act decisively to protect the public.
  • President Carlos Mazón remains shielded from investigation due to his aforado status, though he has been offered the opportunity to voluntarily testify as an investigated party.
  • The judge has rejected calls to investigate central government actions, citing jurisdictional limitations and a lack of direct connection to the fatalities.