The political situation in the Valencia region is deteriorating sharply following a series of testimonies in the investigation into the catastrophic DANA floods. The driver of former premier Carlos Mazón confirmed that the ES-Alert warning system was activated while the politician was still en route to the crisis center. Simultaneously, a scandal has erupted in Alicante concerning controversial allocations of social housing to families of politicians from the People's Party, deepening the crisis of confidence in the local administration.

Testimony of Mazón's Driver

It was confirmed that Mazón's driver heard the ES-Alert alarm at 20:11 while still in Valencia, which undermines the government's official timeline.

Resignation in Rescue Services

Raúl Quílez, Director of Innovation, resigned after providing testimony concerning hidden recordings from the day of the flood.

Housing Scandal in Alicante

It was revealed that the wife of Mayor Luis Barcala rents out a VPP property in which she never lived, sparking opposition protests.

Blockade of Properties in Valencia

The Valencia authorities have suspended the allocation of 39 housing units pending clarification of irregularities in contracts with developer Domio.

Hearings before the investigating judge in Catarroja have yielded new, incriminating facts regarding crisis management during the DANA floods of October 2024. A key piece of evidence became the testimony of Carlos Mazón's driver, who revealed that the ES-Alert system sent notifications to citizens only at 20:11, while he and the premier were still on their way to the Cecopi headquarters. Furthermore, the driver confirmed he drove Mazón home before 1:00 AM, while the crisis team was still working to rescue people. Concurrently, the security structures were shaken by the resignation of Raúl Quílez, Director of Innovation in Emergency Situations. Quílez, who had previously testified as a witness, possessed incriminating recordings involving former Interior Minister Salome Pradas. His departure is interpreted as a result of a deep rift within the government of the Generalitat Valenciana under the leadership of Pérez Llorca, who is attempting to manage the image chaos left by his predecessors. The DANA flood of October 29, 2024, was one of the largest natural disasters in modern Spanish history, causing over 230 deaths, mainly in the province of Valencia. Another political front opened in Alicante, where VPP social housing ended up in the hands of individuals linked to the People's Party (PP). Mayor Luis Barcala rejects accusations of nepotism, claiming that his wife's purchase of a property in 2006 was fully legal and part of a „political witch hunt” organized by the left-wing opposition from the PSPV-PSOE. The opposition describes the situation as „scandalous,” pointing out that the mayor's family profits from renting out a property intended for those in need. „Everything serves to defame, dirty, and slander me and my family. A red line has been crossed.” — Luis Barcala

Mentioned People

  • Carlos Mazón — Former president of Valencia, whose actions on the day of the flood are under judicial investigation.
  • Luis Barcala — Mayor of Alicante accused of nepotism in the allocation of social housing.
  • Raúl Quílez — Senior official for rescue services who resigned.