SpainRuth Merino, former spokesperson for the Valencian regional government during the presidency of Carlos Mazon (2023–2025), testified before a judge investigating the management of the catastrophic flood in Valencia. She stated she learned of the disaster’s severity through television late at night on October 29, 2024, after returning home. The flood, which killed 231 people, began three hours earlier when the Poyo ravine overflowed, burying towns like Catarroja and Paiporta. Merino claimed she was unaware of the emergency until that evening and did not receive any official updates. Despite the State Meteorological Agency issuing a red alert early that morning, the regional government did not take action during a cabinet meeting held between 9:30 and 10:30 AM. Merino also mentioned contacting José Manuel Cuenca, Mazon’s former chief of staff, around 4 PM but said she was never told not to reach out to Mazon. Meanwhile, Mazon spent nearly four hours at a restaurant in Valencia and took a walk with a journalist while the flood worsened. Merino further noted she was not informed when Mazon arrived at the crisis coordination center, Cecopi, 17 minutes after the most critical decision—the
Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual account of testimony provided by Ruth Merino regarding her knowledge of the flood disaster and the regional government’s response. It does not exhibit overtly biased language, one-sided sourcing, or editorializing. The framing remains neutral, focusing on the sequence,
