A Spanish court on Monday rejected a bid to put Valencia's former regional president on trial over his handling of deadly 2024 floods, ruling there was no evidence of a legal violation.
Carlos Mazon, a member of the conservative Popular Party (PP), resigned in November 2025 after intense scrutiny over his actions on the day of the disaster, when authorities delayed sending mobile alerts while he spent hours having lunch with a journalist.
Judge Nuria Ruiz Tobarra, who is investigating the regional government’s response, had recommended trying Mazon with negligence, saying his decision to "retreat to a private dining room when faced with an extremely serious situation" was "a decisive factor in the deadly human toll".
The judge referred the case to the Superior Court of Justice of Valencia, which has the authority to prosecute Mazon because he retains legal protections as a member of the regional parliament.
The court said Monday that Mazon violated no emergency management law, which does not assign specific duties to the regional president.
The decision can be appealed and does not prevent the judge from continuing her investigation and from making future prosecution requests.
In addition to claiming 230 lives, thousands of homes were damaged across the Mediterranean region when a year's worth of rain fell in just a few hours on Oct. 29, 2024.
Families of victims of Spain's deadliest natural disaster in a generation expressed outrage at a state funeral a year later, shouting "murderer" and "coward” as Mazon arrived.
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...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING...
...FREEZE WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM CDT
WEDNESDAY...
* WHAT...For the Wind Advisory, northwest winds 10 to 20 mph with
gusts up to 30 mph. For the Freeze Warning, sub-freezing
temperatures as low as 26 expected.
* WHERE...A portion of central Alabama.
* WHEN...For the Wind Advisory, until 7 PM CDT this evening. For the
Freeze Warning, from 10 PM this evening to 10 AM CDT Wednesday.
* IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Trees
could be blown down and a few power outages may result. Frost and
freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and
possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high
profile vehicles. Use extra caution.
Secure outdoor objects.
Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.
To prevent freezing and possible bursting of pipes they should be
wrapped, drained, or allowed to drip slowly.
&&
...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING...
...FREEZE WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM CDT
WEDNESDAY...
* WHAT...For the Wind Advisory, northwest winds 10 to 20 mph with
gusts up to 30 mph. For the Freeze Warning, sub-freezing
temperatures as low as 26 expected.
* WHERE...A portion of central Alabama.
* WHEN...For the Wind Advisory, until 7 PM CDT this evening. For the
Freeze Warning, from 10 PM this evening to 10 AM CDT Wednesday.
* IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Trees
could be blown down and a few power outages may result. Frost and
freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and
possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high
profile vehicles. Use extra caution.
Secure outdoor objects.
Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.
To prevent freezing and possible bursting of pipes they should be
wrapped, drained, or allowed to drip slowly.
&&
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