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Valencia Fire Chief Tells Judge Risk Was Clear Four Hours Before Mass Alert

His sworn testimony challenges the official emergency timeline over the 2024 Valencia flood.

Overview

  • José Miguel Basset testified that crews recognized serious danger at 16:00, four hours before the Generalitat sent the Es Alert at 20:11.
  • He said he did not realize the full magnitude of the disaster at the Poyo until about 22:00.
  • Fire units withdrew from the Poyo at 15:00, roughly 90 minutes before the overflow that affected towns including Chiva and Cheste.
  • Basset maintained that CHJ and AEMET readings available that day were insufficient or not directly interpretable to predict what occurred, calling it impossible to foresee.
  • He reported learning of the first fatality in Utiel between 18:30 and 19:00, noted Carlos Mazón arrived at Cecopi at 20:28, and said CHJ referred to Forata as undergoing coronación rather than a rupture.