Overview

• Judge Ruiz Tobarra reaffirmed that the Generalitat Valenciana held exclusive responsibility for protecting the public during the October 2024 floods, dismissing central government liability.
• Former regional officials Salomé Pradas and Emilio Argüeso are formally under investigation for alleged mismanagement and delayed emergency responses.
• Argüeso has requested the judge to broaden the investigation to include Miguel Polo, president of the Confederación Hidrográfica del Júcar, and several regional emergency technicians.
• Testimonies revealed systemic failures, including delayed public alerts, lack of on-site river monitoring, and overloaded emergency call systems during the disaster.
• Pradas admitted under oath that her team lacked emergency advisors and cited reliance on technical staff for decision-making during the crisis.