One year after Valencia floods, residents demand Mazón’s resignation
Over 50,000 people filled the streets of Valencia, Spain, on Saturday, October 25, marking the first anniversary of the deadly floods and protesting the authorities’ response.
Many carried photos of the victims, calling for the resignation of regional leader Carlos Mazón, whom they blame for a slow response during one of Europe’s most lethal recent natural disasters, reports The Guardian.
“People are still very angry. Why weren’t people evacuated? It’s incomprehensible,” said Rosa Cerros, a 42-year-old public servant who joined the protest with her husband and two daughters.
Mazón’s administration faced heavy criticism for failing to issue flood alerts on mobile phones until 20:11 on October 29, 2024—more than 12 hours after the national meteorological agency had raised the highest alert for torrential rain. By then, muddy waters were already engulfing streets, cars, and homes, residents told Spanish media.
The floods struck 78 municipalities, mostly in Valencia’s southern suburbs, killing 229 people. One body was found recently on Tuesday.
Despite warning signs, Mazón attended a multi-hour lunch with a journalist on the day of the floods and appeared in photos posted on Twitter by his staff, receiving a sustainable tourism certification.
“Mazón was not where he should have been that day; he failed to rise to the occasion,” said Gonzalo Bosch, a 38-year-old accountant from Paiporta, one of the hardest-hit cities.
A recent El País survey revealed that 71% of Valencia residents believe Mazón should resign. Nearly half of the victims were aged 70 or older, a point stressed by protesters who accuse authorities of neglecting the region’s most vulnerable residents.
Rosa Alvarez, leader of an association representing flood victims and a key organizer of the march, blamed the regional government’s inaction for her 80-year-old father’s death.
On Wednesday, Valencia will hold an official memorial ceremony marking one year since the tragedy, attended by King Felipe and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
