The recent catastrophic flooding in Valencia has sparked outrage among residents, with many criticizing the government’s delayed response to the disaster. The region, already under a red weather warning, was hit hard by the DANA weather system, which dumped nearly a year’s worth of rain in just one day. By Tuesday evening, the floodwaters were wreaking havoc across inland areas, causing destruction in places that had not experienced heavy rainfall.
Regional president Carlos Mazón initially assured the public at a press conference that the weather would improve by the evening. However, by 3:20 PM, emergency services were already rescuing people trapped in cars and homes. The first alert from the Valencian government’s civil protection agency did not reach residents until 8:15 PM, far too late for many.
Vicent Marzà, a Valencian member of the European Parliament, recounted a harrowing conversation with a friend who found himself clinging to a tree for safety. “I was speaking with a friend of mine and he told me, ‘I was at the top of a tree when I received the alarm,’” Marzà shared. He expressed dismay over the lack of timely warnings, noting that many individuals were caught off guard while at work, schools, or in cinemas when the floods hit.
Gwenan Iolo, a resident of Valencia, expressed her frustration over the delayed closure of schools, which was only announced at 9:20 PM, well after many were already on their way home. “They knew about this at 7:30 in the morning and they alerted people after 8 in the evening. That’s why they got caught in the floods,” she lamented.
As the situation worsened, many found themselves trapped in workplaces or vehicles, struggling to escape the rapidly rising waters. Videos showed traffic jams forming, only to be engulfed by floodwaters within half an hour.
In the aftermath, thousands of volunteers have stepped in to provide assistance, with the army being deployed only recently to help those in need. “People felt that they were alone,” Marzà noted, adding that many were overwhelmed with gratitude for the help they received, yet still cried out for professional support that came too late.
The anger directed at Mazón intensified when he accepted a sustainable tourism award amid the disaster and declined offers of assistance from Catalan and French firefighters. Local mayors from his own party publicly voiced their feelings of abandonment, while residents in the town of Paiporta confronted Mazón during a visit, shouting accusations and throwing mud.
This disaster has also reignited concerns over the region’s preparedness for climate change, particularly as Mazón’s government had previously dismantled an emergency response unit established to address the growing threat. “Nobody understands why they would destroy an emergency agency that could be helping at the moment,” Marzà lamented.
As recovery efforts continue, Iolo described the devastation as “apocalyptic,” with many residents still without basic necessities. A demonstration calling for Mazón’s resignation is set for November 9, as the community grapples with the rising death toll and the long road to recovery. “There’s going to be hell to pay,” she warned, as survivors begin to confront the full impact of the tragedy.
