Surprise Visit from President Mazón Marks Night of Fire at Valencia's Fallas Festival
On Wednesday night, the President of the Generalitat, Carlos Mazón, made an unexpected appearance at Valencia's City Hall to witness the traditional Nit de la Cremà. From the council balcony, he observed the ceremonial burning of the large municipal falla. This event saw Mazón, who had remained absent from the council celebrations throughout the Fallas of 2025, sharing the moment with Valencia's mayor, María José Catalá, and several regional officials.
Mazón's arrival just before 10:30 PM came shortly after the burning of the children’s falla which took place earlier in the evening. Prior to this, he had not been spotted at any of the sixteen mascletaes since the festival began on March 1, except for a few that were canceled due to adverse weather conditions.
As the night unfolded, members of the socialist municipal group quickly took to social media to note Mazón's surprise visit. Those present at City Hall included key members of his Consell, such as First Vice President Susana Camarero and Second Vice President Francisco Gan Pampols.
However, the night was marred by an accident that occurred earlier, when an explosion during the festivities at Falla Zapadores injured several individuals. Just before the burning of the children’s monument at approximately 7:55 PM, a thunder of impact device malfunctioned and exploded among the audience, resulting in injuries to two individuals—a 26-year-old man and woman—who were transported to Hospital La Fe in Valencia via ambulance.
City Hall confirmed that the mishap happened when a signaling shell intended to mark the start of the children’s Cremà fell among the spectators. Reports indicated that the second warning device didn’t detonate as planned, leading to the chaos. Those affected included festival members, while other attendees reported ear pain from the explosive sounds.
Initial medical assistance was provided by personnel on site until the arrival of local health services and police. The falleros community was left in shock, deeply impacted by the unfortunate incident. The burning of the children's falla was ultimately delayed by an hour and a half due to the aftermath of the explosion.
In light of these events, the night remained a mix of celebration and concern as Valencia continued its vibrant Fallas tradition amidst the unexpected surprises and the need for safety awareness.
Related Sources: