In a significant development regarding the investigation of a recent natural disaster in Valencia, Judge Nuria Ruiz Tobarra is requesting access to deleted messages from the mobile phone of José Manuel Cuenca, who served as the chief of staff to President Carlos Mazón. The disaster, which occurred on October 29, 2024, has raised questions about the management of communications between Cuenca and high-ranking officials in the Generalitat, particularly in the context of their response during the crisis. Cuenca had formatted his iPhone 14 Pro Max before returning it to the Generalitat, prompting concerns about potentially crucial information being lost.

To aid her investigation, Judge Ruiz Tobarra has initiated a legal procedure to recover these messages, which involves issuing a European investigation order to Telegram in Brussels and a mutual legal assistance request to WhatsApp in the United States. This step is critical as it aims to obtain communications that could provide insight into decision-making and coordination efforts during the flood response. The investigation is particularly focused on understanding how the Generalitat handled the crisis and whether any failures occurred in their emergency response.

The implications of this action may extend beyond the immediate investigation, possibly affecting the credibility of the officials involved and shaping public perception of their competency during the disaster. The case highlights the importance of digital communication in contemporary crisis management and raises questions about data retention and privacy within governmental contexts, particularly during times of emergency.