Tens of thousands of demonstrators flooded the streets of Valencia on Saturday, marking one year since the catastrophic deluge that claimed hundreds of lives in Spain’s eastern region.
Protesters accused local authorities of negligence and called for the resignation of regional president Carlos Mazón.
Carrying photos of victims and placards demanding justice, more than 50,000 people joined the rally through the city centre.
“People are still furious,” said Rosa Cerros, a public employee who attended the protest with her family. “We are still asking the same question why were not people evacuated in time?”
The October 2024 floods, one of Europe’s deadliest natural disasters in decades, devastated 78 municipalities across the Valencia region, killing 229 people. Even a year later, recovery remains slow, and anger over the government’s delayed response continues to simmer.
Critics say Mazón’s administration failed to issue timely mobile alerts despite a red weather warning being in place since early morning.
Alerts were reportedly sent after 8pm, hours after the floods had begun. By then, water had already engulfed streets and homes in several towns.
“Mazón was not where he should have been, he failed the people,” said protester Gonzalo Bosch from Paiporta, one of the worst-hit areas. Photos from the day showed Mazón attending a lunch and posing for a tourism event, further fuelling public outrage.
Under Spain’s decentralised governance, regional administrations bear primary responsibility for disaster response. However, Mazón, a member of the conservative Popular Party, has maintained that his government did not receive adequate information from national authorities in time to act.
A recent El País poll found that 71% of Valencia residents believe Mazón should resign. Many protesters also noted that nearly half the victims were elderly, accusing officials of failing to protect the most vulnerable.
As chants demanding justice echoed through the streets, Valencia’s residents vowed to keep pressing for accountability and to ensure the tragedy is never forgotten.
