Thousands Demand Justice in Valencia Over Deadly 2024 Floods as Anger Mounts Against Regional Leader

Tens of thousands of protesters flooded the streets of Valencia, Spain, on Saturday, demanding the resignation of conservative regional leader Carlos Mazon over his alleged mishandling of the devastating flash floods that killed 229 people in 2024. The massive demonstration marked the 12th protest since the tragedy, which remains one of Europe’s deadliest flood disasters since 1967.

Carrying banners reading “Mazon to prison” and chanting “They didn’t die, they were murdered,” protesters filled the city center to honor victims and demand accountability. Many residents accuse Mazon’s regional administration of responding too slowly to the emergency, failing to issue timely alerts as floodwaters engulfed homes and streets. The flash floods, caused by a severe weather system known locally as DANA, devastated the eastern region and highlighted Spain’s growing vulnerability to extreme weather events fueled by climate change.

“I have lost everything, but what matters most are the lives that could have been saved,” said 71-year-old survivor Cristina Guzman Trabero. “We are here for justice. We don’t want anything else.”

A judicial investigation into the government’s emergency response continues, with new developments emerging. On Thursday, a local court summoned a journalist who had been having lunch with Mazon on the day the floods struck—October 29, 2024. Authorities also reported discovering the remains of a 56-year-old man recently, a year after he was swept away by the raging waters.

As Spain faces increasing climate-related disasters, public outrage over government accountability grows stronger. The Valencia floods serve as a grim reminder of the urgent need for improved disaster preparedness and transparency in crisis management to prevent another national tragedy.