Lorraine Williamson
In Valencia, the aftermath of the October 2024 floods, which claimed the lives of 228 people, continues to fuel public outrage.
On April 11, 2025, Salomé Pradas, the former Minister of Justice and Home Affairs, faced court over allegations of negligence during the disaster.
Anger at the courthouse
As Pradas arrived at the courthouse, she was greeted by a crowd of angry relatives and victims of the flood. Slogans like “Mazón, murderer!” and “Resign!” were directed at Carlos Mazón, President of the Valencia region. This highlights the growing frustration with the regional government’s response.
Pradas’ defence: Acknowledging inexperience
In a tearful admission, Pradas conceded her lack of experience in disaster management. Prior to being appointed minister in July 2024, she had worked as a lawyer and lecturer in commercial law. She explained that her actions during the crisis were based on expert advice, with ultimate responsibility lying with the national Ministry of Home Affairs in Madrid.
Pradas further stated that critical decisions were made by an advisory committee, shifting part of the blame away from herself. She also defended Mazón, asserting that his delayed arrival at the regional coordination centre had no impact on decision-making. According to her, the emergency warning was only issued once there was a real threat of the Forata dam collapsing.
Media criticism
Spanish media, particularly the newspaper ABC, strongly criticised Pradas’ appointment. It argued that placing someone with no disaster management experience in such a pivotal role was reckless. The editorial described Pradas’ attempt to deflect blame onto technical staff as “lazy and evasive”. Moreover, it emphasised the moral and legal responsibility politicians bear in life-threatening situations.
Valencia minister delayed floods response and failures
Pradas explained the coordination centre was not activated until 5.00 pm because the alert level was only raised then. She claimed she was unaware of the flood risk from the Poyo River, which caused severe damage in towns like Catarroja and Paiporta. She also pointed to communication failures, claiming that the emergency service number 112, which received nearly 20,000 calls on the day of the disaster, had failed to relay important information to her ministry or the Mazón government.
As evidence of her efforts, Pradas presented a list of 100 phone calls she allegedly made on the day of the disaster.
Other officials under scrutiny
In addition to Pradas, Emilio Argüeso, the former Secretary of State for Emergency Aid, was summoned to court. He denied responsibility, instead shifting blame to his deputy, who was on holiday at the time. Argüeso insisted that warnings had been issued on time and that the delay in sending out the mobile emergency alert via the ES Alert system did not affect the severity of the disaster.
Legal and political fallout
While Pradas now faces criminal charges, Argüeso appears to have avoided legal consequences for the moment. However, the flood’s aftermath and the ongoing court case are putting increasing pressure on President Mazón. Since October, seven protests have called for his resignation. Despite this, Mazón has refused to step down or testify in court, further intensifying political tensions in the region.
The Valencia minister’s response to the floods is now at the centre of a legal investigation, raising broader concerns about political accountability.