Valencian Councillor Assures Lluís Vives School Will Not Necessarily Be Demolished After Fatal Incident
José Antonio Rovira, the Education Councillor of the Valencian Government, has clarified that the Lluís Vives school in Massanassa, Valencia, will not necessarily face demolition following the tragic death of a worker employed by Tragsa on Sunday. Rovira addressed the media after a meeting with President Carlos Mazón and Juan Miguel Alepuz, the head of Tragsa in the Valencian Community. During the press conference, he emphasized that the school had been marked as red due to damage incurred from DANA (a weather phenomenon) but was not classified as at risk of collapse.
"The accident occurred in a porch area, likely due to damage to a pillar, and as such, it does not pose an immediate threat," Rovira stated. He confirmed that workplace accidents like this one are subject to investigation by the Valencian Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (INVASSAT).
When queried about the ongoing work at the school, Rovira explained that they were engaged in exterior sanitation efforts, cleaning mud and debris, a task municipalities had urgently requested. This cleaning operation involved a machine and a team of four workers. His comments underscored that the school's condition necessitated such work, with director-general of infrastructures having visited the site just a week prior.
Rovira noted that plans are being developed to temporarily relocate the students to prefabricated classrooms while a longer-term reconstruction plan is assessed. He emphasized that the immediate priority lies in renovating centers that can be made available more quickly for educational use.
With the flooding having caused significant structural impact, the students from Lluís Vives will be moved to an alternative facility, the former School of Education in Valencia, starting soon. The councillor reassured the public that, although marked for reconstruction, there was no imminent decision to tear down the school. He expressed the goal of finding safer and more suitable educational environments rather than displacing children unnecessarily.
In light of the incident, Rovira reiterated that investigations by labor inspectors would provide clarity on the accident. Furthermore, he explained that post-flood assessments had taken place in over 90 centers, with many schools already open or set to reopen shortly. Currently, Tragsa is active in 19 municipalities and has already intervened in 68 educational institutions, focusing on cleaning and ensuring hygiene.
The aftermath of the October floods has seen various school facilities transform into logistical centers for storing supplies and assisting the community. Rovira assured that safety and educational continuity remain the government's top priorities as they navigate the challenges posed by the recent natural disaster.
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