Judge Critiques Generalitat's Inaction During Valencia's DANA Disaster
In a significant development concerning the tragic DANA (DANA stands for 'Densa Amasamiento de Nubes' - a Spanish term for a weather phenomenon) that struck Valencia, Judge Nuria Ruiz Tobarra has released a new order that sharply criticizes the Generalitat for its severe inaction during the critical hours of October 29. According to reports from El País, the judge noted that members of the Integrated Operational Coordination Center (Cecopi) appeared to operate as if they were 'living in a bubble,' disconnected from the realities outside during this catastrophic event.
This critical assessment follows a series of testimonies collected over recent weeks, painting a troubling picture of the government's response—or lack thereof—during the emergency. Judge Tobarra has placed the blame squarely on the Generalitat, asserting that they failed to act adequately in the face of a dire situation. On Tuesday morning, it was also revealed that she declined to summon Pilar Bernabé, the Government Delegate in the Valencian Community, for investigation, stating that, as there was no national emergency declared, the responsibility falls solely on the regional government.
The judge emphasized that attempting to extend responsibility to other administrations only serves to diminish the seriousness of the Generalitat's inactivity, especially in light of the disastrous outcome that claimed 227 lives and left two individuals missing. In her findings, Judge Tobarra notes the significant lack of urgency in decision-making within the government, particularly from the former Interior and Emergencies Councillor Salomé Pradas and her deputy Emilio Argüeso.
She pointed out that by the time an alert was issued at 20:11, a considerable number of fatalities had already occurred. The judge's examination of call logs and communications revealed that operational decisions were severely lacking when they were most needed. Critical information, such as 112 emergency calls, AEMET's meteorological forecasts, and data concerning the state of the ravines, went unnoticed or uncoordinated at the regional level.
In her stern evaluation, she characterized Cecopi meetings as a 'room where time passed slowly,' indicating a systemic failure to communicate and respond effectively while floods surged from the ravines and riverbeds. Her assessment encapsulates the frustration surrounding the perceived bureaucratic paralysis at a time when decisive action could have saved lives. As this investigation progresses, attention remains focused on the implications of this critique for the Generalitat and the need for accountability in future emergencies.
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