Judge Investigates Security Detail Decisions During Valencia DANA Flood Response

Valencia, Spain – A judge investigating the response to the devastating DANA (Isolated Depression at High Levels) floods that struck the Valencia region on October 29, 2024, is examining decisions made regarding the security detail assigned to then-President of the Generalitat, Carlos Mazón. The inquiry centers on an instance where Mazón reportedly dismissed his security detail shortly before having lunch with a journalist during the critical hours of the emergency.

Security Detail Dismissal Confirmed

According to testimony given by a sub-inspector of the National Police assigned to the Generalitat, Mazón informed his security detail around 2:50 p.m. On October 29, 2024, that he did not require their services. This occurred shortly before Mazón’s scheduled lunch with journalist Maribel Vilaplana. The sub-inspector stated that the decision to dismiss the detail was communicated verbally, with instructions given to the officers to proceed to a restaurant and remain available at the Palau de la Generalitat, as reported by Levante-EMV.

No Written Record of Dismissal

The police officer testified that there was no formal, written record of Mazón’s decision to waive his security detail. He emphasized that as president, Mazón had the authority to determine when his security services were needed. The standard protocol is for the detail to accompany the president at all times, “whether they are party events or family meals,” according to the sub-inspector’s statement.

Officer’s Experience During the Emergency

The head of the president’s security service was at the Palau de la Generalitat during the morning of October 29th and did not overhear any conversations or receive any calls from Mazón regarding the developing emergency. He left for home around 2:00 p.m., after Mazón departed for lunch. The officer reported experiencing heavy rainfall in his area and his home began to flood around 6:00 p.m., resulting in a loss of electricity and communication until 9:00 p.m. He communicated his situation to his superior and Pilar Montes, the then-general director of the President’s Cabinet Secretariat, who acknowledged the information.

Lack of Awareness of Emergency Situation

While at the Palau, the sub-inspector was reportedly unaware of the escalating emergency. He described October 29th as “a normal day” and stated that no extraordinary security measures were implemented due to the absence of any anomalous situation concerning the president’s security.

Ongoing Investigation

The judge in Catarroja has requested copies of surveillance footage from the Centro de Emergencias (CECOPI) from October 29, 2024, between 3:00 p.m. And 11:59 p.m. To verify entry and exit times from the meeting room, as reported by Veritas. The investigation is part of a larger inquiry into the deaths of 230 people and numerous injuries resulting from the DANA floods, being treated as cases of negligent homicide. The judge has as well requested information regarding the identification of the driver and bodyguards who accompanied Carlos Mazón on the day of the disaster, as well as information from three FGV directors and an autonomous secretary.

Calls for Mazón’s resignation continue, with over 50,000 Valencians protesting on October 25, 2025, marking the 12th monthly demonstration since the floods, according to Euro Weekly News. Victims’ families and critics continue to question Mazón’s priorities during the crisis.