WhatsApp Chronicles: How Political Leaders Communicated During the Valencia Disaster

On October 29, 2024, the province of Valencia was struck by a catastrophic DANA (Dana de Estancamiento) that resulted in the tragic loss of 230 lives. In the midst of this chaos, a series of WhatsApp messages exchanged between former Valencian Generalitat president Carlos Mazón and the leader of the People's Party (PP), Alberto Núñez Feijóo, revealed just how dire the situation was unfolding. The conversation began at 7:59 PM when Feijóo reached out to Mazón after seeing reports about the escalating disaster. He expressed his solidarity and offered any support that was needed, capturing the gravity of the moment. "This is going to be a fucking disaster, president," was Mazón's stark response just minutes later, marking the tone of the frantic exchange. As the evening wore on, Mazón conveyed to Feijóo that the situation was deteriorating rapidly. By 8:15 PM, he stated, "Long night ahead," indicating the struggles emergency services were facing. By 9:44 PM, Mazón was justifying his urgency by requesting the contact of former Telefónica president José María Álvarez-Pallete, underscoring the need for immediate action. Feijóo managed to provide the contact while inquiring about the state of the affected communities. Mazón, overwhelmed by the reports of missing persons, described the situation as chaotic. "We are overwhelmed; we don’t really know what is happening, but we are receiving dozens of missing persons reports, and I cannot confirm them," he told Feijóo. The messages continued that night as the leaders discussed the government's involvement in managing the emergency. Mazón indicated that while the government was available to help, their organized crisis committee was ineffective, describing it as worthless. He expressed frustration at the coordination efforts and communicated with government officials, including Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and ministers responsible for defense and interior affairs, to mobilize resources. At 11:23 PM, Mazón informed Feijóo about the desperate circumstances: "The problem now is that we can’t even enter many towns with people on the roofs scared to death." Just two minutes later, he mentioned the first indications of fatalities, revealing that bodies were beginning to be discovered in Utiel but had not yet made it to public knowledge. His ominous message, "This is going to be a fucking disaster, president," encapsulated the urgency and desperation felt at that moment. The final message of the night, sent at 11:29 PM, reinforced the overload of information Mazón was dealing with. In the aftermath, Feijóo reflected on the misinformation he provided during a subsequent press announcement, acknowledging that he mistakenly stated that Mazón had been communicating with him in real time since the previous Monday, not realizing that October 29 was a Tuesday. This timeline of communication not only highlights the crucial role of the leadership during the crisis but also reflects the chaotic nature of disaster management when lives hang in the balance. As investigations continue regarding the government's handling of the situation, these text messages serve as a poignant reminder of the human element behind political bureaucracy and decision-making in times of tragedy. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2