Government Delegate's Testimony on Flooding Sparks Political Tensions
On Tuesday, a lengthy seven-hour testimony from Government delegate Pilar Bernabé before the judge concerning the flooding incident during the DANA has sparked significant political fallout. Notably, Bernabé revealed that the central government acknowledged for the first time that the Júcar Hydrographic Confederation (CHJ) failed to inform relevant authorities about the flooding in the Poyo ravine during a critical Cecopi meeting on October 29. The admission came after Bernabé indicated she only learned of the overflow from a phone call by the mayor of Paiporta, Maribel Albalat, around 7 PM.
During the Cecopi meeting, the conversation primarily centered on the Forata dam, driven by concerns over its potential collapse, which meant that the situation in El Poyo was not addressed until much later. This revelation reignited accusations from the Valencian government, led by President Carlos Mazón, who asserted that the central government had neglected to warn about the escalating conditions in the Poyo ravine until it was too late.
Mazón took to social media to criticize the lack of timely warnings, stating, 'They have been denying it for six months.' The political right, particularly the Genoa party, seized upon Bernabé's comments, aiming to place the Pedro Sánchez administration under scrutiny once again.
However, Bernabé’s statements did little to provide new insights into the Cecopi meeting’s proceedings. Two months prior, WhatsApp messages shared by the head of climatology from AEMET indicated that the main focus was indeed on the Forata dam, leaving the Poyo ravine overlooked.
Curiously, the question remains as to why the Poyo ravine was not addressed during the meeting, especially since the president of the Júcar Hydrographic Confederation was also present. According to Bernabé, flow levels began to rise around 6:43 PM, but they were disconnected from the meeting by the decision of the Generalitat, and upon resuming, no mention was made of the Poyo ravine despite an earlier hydrological alert.
Mazón and his administration have claimed that the Júcar Hydrographic Confederation did not inform them about the flow increase, a statement disputed by reports from Cadena Ser which outlined that multiple warnings were issued throughout that afternoon. Specifically, three alerts were sent out after the flow began to rise: at 6:43 PM, 6:58 PM, and 7:28 PM. Furthermore, it was noted that the Poyo ravine falls outside the jurisdiction of the Júcar Hydrographic Confederation as per the regional flood management plan, which outlines their responsibilities in monitoring larger rivers, with the Poyo being a generally dry stream.
When questioned about receiving specific data on precipitation and flow conditions from the Decentralized Hydrographic Confederation, Bernabé clarified that such information was relayed through various channels, including email. She emphasized that qualified professionals trained to interpret this data were part of the Emergency Coordination Center.
In the course of the testimony, it was highlighted that when the president of the CHJ finally detailed the dam situation at the Cecopi meeting, the discussion turned to possible evacuations. However, technicians cautioned against making any immediate decisions regarding this.
Finally, it's worth mentioning that the regional secretary for Emergencies of the Generalitat, Emilio Argüeso, previously acknowledged in a WhatsApp message that the ravines were at risk of collapsing. The response from the first vice-president of the Consell, Susana Camarero, was notably tepid, indicating a lack of urgency in addressing the flood crisis.
This series of revelations has deepened the scrutiny on how emergency alerts and communications were managed, prompting questions about accountability in the wake of natural disasters in the region.
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