Valencia Dana Flooding – Calls For Mazon’s Resignation Continue As Mourning Still Hits Hard

In an almost overwhelming show of condolences and fury, complete 50,000 Valencians flooded nan streets of Valencia City yet again connected Saturday, October 25, chanting “Mazón dimisión” successful nan 12th monthly protestation since nan catastrophic DANA floods of October 29, 2024. 

The demonstration, organised by much than 200 civic, social, and victims’ groups, marked nan eve of nan tragedy’s first anniversary, which claimed 229 lives and near full communities successful ruins, galore of which proceed to prime up nan pieces of their lives and income today.

Tractors utilized to clear mud utilized lead 12th monthly demonstration

As tractors led nan march from Plaza de San Agustin to Plaza de la Virgen, participants waved photos of mislaid loved ones and effigies of location President Carlos Mazón smeared successful symbolic mud and blood, which expressed, aft a twelvemonth of mourning, nan still unheeded calls for accountability.

The DANA – a high-level isolated slump – unleashed torrential rains, turning nan Turia River basin into a deadly torrent. Flash floods ravaged Horta Sud, Paiporta, and Catarroja, pinch emergency alerts delayed until 8.11pm, hours aft waters had risen lethally, and misleading residents to unreserved retired to prevention their cars. Critics, including victims’ families, lambast Mazón for putting a leisurely lunch astatine El Ventorro edifice pinch journalist Maribel Vilaplana complete situation coordination astatine CECOPI headquarters. “We still don’t cognize what Carlos Mazón was doing that afternoon,” said Mariló Gradolí, president of nan Associació de Víctimes de la Dana 29 d’Octubre, speaking astatine nan rally’s start. “We request truth for each victims – justness successful courts, society, and politics.”

12 months on, nan aforesaid mobility remains – Why?

Antonio Banderas took to X to repost his ain station from 364 days before, saying, “Why aren’t Army helicopters pinch food, h2o and medicine sent to nan Valencia peoples affected by nan DANA? Why are location not diggers to unfastened roads, portable connection centres, section hospitals? Why are our taxes and resources amended utilised elsewhere? Why?”

Polls bespeak heavy nationalist discontent: 80 per cent of Valencians disapprove of Mazón’s leadership, according to a caller Prensa Ibérica survey. Protests person swelled from 10,000 attendees successful November 2024 to today’s estimated 50,000, arsenic reported by nan Government Delegation (though section constabulary cited 32,000). Banners screamed “Mazón culpable” and “20:11 ni oblit ni perdó,” referencing nan belated emergency ES-Alert. Toñi García, who mislaid her hubby and girl successful nan floods, demanded, “This personification won’t resign, truthful we must region him by immoderate intends for his negligence.”

Legally, Mazón faces mounting scrutiny. The Valencia Court of Appeal has ordered Vilaplana’s grounds connected November 3, probing grounds tampering allegations. Ongoing investigations successful Catarroja analyse protocol failures, pinch nary charges yet but probes into nan afloat Consell.

Reconstruction stalls amid opacity:

€1.5 cardinal successful assistance pledged, yet still 15 per cent of affected businesses stay shuttered, and galore families proceed to suffer displacement. A greeting tribute astatine Olympia Theatre featured muixeranga performances and unfortunate testimonies, successful a operation of representation pinch militancy. “Reivindicación is besides memoria,” Gradolí affirmed.

As nan nonstop day nears connected October 29 – pinch a authorities ceremonial planned – Valencians vow persistence. For support resources, sojourn nan Associació de Víctimes de la Dana. Will this unit force change? The streets opportunity yes, arsenic Mazón‘s grip connected powerfulness weakens.