21 Nov, 2024 @ 15:30
1 min read

Manslaughter investigation opened against Spain’s weather agency over Valencia flood deaths

THE chief of Spain’s national weather agency is facing investigation for manslaughter over the deaths of 221 people in Valencia last month.

María Jose Rallo del Olmo, the president of Aemet, is one of three officials in the firing line of a complaint filed by activist group Manos Limpias.

The group has deemed Rallo del Olmo to be jointly culpable for the loss of life following the catastrophic storms and flooding that struck the Valencia region on October 29.

The complaint details a series of negligent mismanagement errors from Aemet, the regional government and the regional hydrological authority that contributed to the deaths.

READ MORE: Spain’s government blames climate change for Valencia flood disaster and criticises region ‘for not knowing how to respond’

Volunteers help in the streets of Paiporta to remove the mud and water accumulated in the during the deadly flooding. Photo: Marti Segura Ramoneda

The first claim is that the red warning sent out by Aemet at 8am on the day of the disaster was ‘insufficient’ because it only warned residents not to travel.

The president of the Jucar Hydrographic Confederation, Miguel Polo, is then listed as culpable for not warning the regional government of the deadly torrential water flows in the Poyo ravine until it was too late.

READ MORE: Spain’s King and Queen return to flood-ravaged Valencia: Royal couple enjoy warm welcome after infamous mud-slinging incident

The confederation reportedly notified the Valencia Generalitat that the flow of the ravine was low at 3.50pm.

The president of Aemet, María Jose Rallo del Olmo, has been named in a complaint for manslaughter

But data from a sensor in the ravine began to report that the ravine was flowing out of control around 5pm, yet Polo’s authority didn’t warn the Generalitat until 6.43pm – when people had already begun to die.

The complaint adds that the Jucar Hydrographic Confederation has a budget of €58.2 million, but has only invested €1.1 million in preventive infrastructure while at the same time spending more than €8 million on salaries.

The third person who could find themselves in the dock is Valencia Security and Emergencies boss Angel Javier Montero.

The regional government did not send out Civil Protection emergency alerts to mobile phones in the affected areas until 8.11pm. 

The complaint was accepted by Judge Vicente Rios, who decided to move ahead and open a formal investigation.

Manos Limpias added that they filed their own complaint after growing impatient waiting for the ‘passive’ public prosecutor to open an investigation.

Walter Finch

Walter Finch, who comes from a background in video and photography, is keen on reporting on and investigating organised crime, corruption and abuse of power. He is fascinated by the nexus between politics, business and law-breaking, as well as other wider trends that affect society.
Born in London but having lived in six countries, he is well-travelled and worldly. He studied Philosophy at the University of Birmingham and earned his diploma in journalism from London's renowned News Associates during the Covid era.
He got his first break in the business working on the Foreign News desk of the Daily Mail's online arm, where he also helped out on the video desk.
He then decided to escape the confines of London and returned to Spain in 2022, having previously lived in Barcelona for many years.
He took up up a reporter role with the Olive Press Newspaper and today he is based in La Linea de la Concepcion at the heart of a global chokepoint and crucial maritime hub, where he edits the Olive Press Gibraltar edition.
He is also the deputy news editor across all editions of the newspaper.

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