The driver for former Valencian president Carlos Mazón testified that they were still in central Valencia when an emergency alert was issued during a tragic flooding event.
On October 29, 2024, during a tragic flooding incident that claimed 230 lives in Valencia, the driver of Carlos Mazón, the former president of the Generalitat Valenciana, provided testimony to Judge Nuria Ruiz Tobarra. He stated that when the Es-Alert emergency alert was triggered at 20:11, they were still in the center of the city. After picking up Mazón from the Palau de la Generalitat, the driver recalled that they went to collect Mazón's press chief from the Torres de Serrano, a central location in Valencia. He confirmed that the alert sounded after they had already picked her up.
This testimony is crucial as it occurs amidst an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the disaster caused by the intense flooding, termed a 'gota fría'. The Es-Alert system is designed to inform citizens of imminent danger, and the timing of the alert in relation to the actions and movements of key public figures is under scrutiny. The driver's willingness to allow his phone calls to be verified is seen as a step towards clarifying the timeline of events during the crisis.
As the investigation progresses, the implications of the findings could strengthen accountability norms for officials during emergency situations. Any discrepancies or failures in response measures during such disasters may lead to significant political repercussions for those involved in the decision-making processes during the flooding response. The public's expectation for transparency and responsibility will likely be heightened as details emerge from the testimonies.
