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4h ago

State Memorial Marks Valencia Floods Anniversary With Protests and Probes Ongoing

Public grief focuses on accountability for delayed alerts in the regional response.

A man stands next to stranded cars, in the aftermath of floods caused by heavy rains, in Sedavi, Valencia, Spain, October 31, 2024. Almost 240 people died in Spain after torrential rains in October 2024 triggered floods that swept through eastern and southeastern Spain. The most severely hit area was Valencia's southern suburbs, where more than 220 people died. REUTERS/Susana Vera/File Photo
Image
Public figures and relatives of the victims attend a memorial ceremony marking one year since floods that killed more than 230 people, in Valencia, Spain, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
Spanish King Felipe and Queen Letizia, next to Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, left, attend a memorial ceremony marking one year since floods that killed more than 230 people, in Valencia, Spain, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

Overview

  • King Felipe VI is leading a state ceremony in Valencia on Wednesday, with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and regional leader Carlos Mazón expected alongside hundreds of relatives and local mayors.
  • Tens of thousands marched in Valencia days earlier calling for Mazón to resign, and some victims' families urged him to stay away from the commemoration.
  • A judicial investigation remains active into the emergency response, including the timing of mobile alerts and Mazón’s whereabouts during the disaster.
  • The national government approved €5 billion in loan guarantees on Tuesday and says more than €8 billion has already been disbursed for cleanup and assistance.
  • The Oct. 29, 2024 DANA-driven floods killed 237 people nationwide, swept away about 130,000 vehicles, damaged thousands of homes, and left victims still being recovered as recently as last week.