AEMET had been alerting for a week of the arrival of a DANA, but Until then “there was nothing new”. In autumn, in the Valencian Community, you already know what there is.
We had warned that it could be particularly violent. And that’s why, on the morning of October 29, the central government’s weather agency raised its warning to red, The Generalitat sent its red emergency alert because of the rain.
They were the 12:29 p.m. and, “as a precaution”, the alert was no longer deactivated. Neither when the flows of the Poyo ravine began to decrease, nor when the AEMET itself issued a forecast according to which, from the 6:00 p.m. The focus of the storm would head north.
“It was a day of intense rain and we were on alert. But at 7 p.m. everything changed.” This is how the President of the Generalitat, Carlos Mazón, livedas he told his close friends.
29-O will be the day that will forever mark his political life. And real life, after unconsummated terror that the Forata dam will burstand the unexpected disaster of “Colossal” overflow in the Poyo ravinewith its hundreds of lives lost… and the thousands of jobs, homes, businesses, vehicles, infrastructure affected.
Mazón started the day by filling his diary, with his schedule of morning events, practically like any other “cold drop” day. This is how these atmospheric phenomena were known before being named DANA (Isolated Depression at High Levels).
His advisors linked to the possible emergency were at their post, and attentive to all communications from town halls, deputations, AEMET and of Hydrographic Confederations. And keep you informed of all the news, “like the reasons for the noon alert”.
Carlos Mazón, president of the Generalitat Valenciana, in one of the appearances due to the DANA emergency.
Anyway, after finishing his morning tasks, the president He went out with some of his team “have a snack around the Palau”. These days it is said that he was celebrating a birthday, celebrating a party while the clouds were loading over Valencia and were already unloading on the ravines, upstream.
“It’s false, I had to come out to deny this ignominy”Mazon explained. Indeed, that day was his birthday. advise of Innovation, Nuria Montes“But I wasn’t there,” he insists. “Coming back after eating something quick, I went to Palau to prepare the Budgets“.
This is where the President of the Valencian Community was, and was carrying out this work, when CECOPI (Integrated Center for Operational Coordination) met in 5:00 p.m..
In this meeting to follow the evolution of DANA, continues the story of “the truth of Mazón”, There were representatives of the Government Delegation, the CHJ, the National Police and the Civil Guard (all telematics), as well as the Generalitat, the Provincial Deputation of Valencia and the Military Emergency Unit, UME (in a manner in person).
“When everything changed”
He told those close to him, because it was also published that Mazón “arrived at CECOPI two hours after his meeting.” AND Indeed, the president arrived after 7:00 p.m.“when everything changed”.
The Government delegate, Pilar Bernabénever approached in person; He limited himself to connecting via video call.
At that time, seven o’clock in the afternoon, Mazón received the notice that the flow of the ravines “It was growing very quickly” and that there were dams that were at risk of overflowing or even being damaged.
More precisely, to 6:46 p.m. it’s when a e-mail of the SAIH (Integrated Hydrological Information System) of the Poyo ravine, dependent on the Hydrographic Confederation of Júcar, warned that the flow was from 1,686 m3 per second.
It had only been three minutes since the overflow was already wreaking havoc in towns like Paiporta. Although “No one talked about it at CECOPI,” says the president to his intimates.
Yes, the evolution of the Forata dam, upstream of the Magro river, was followed with concern during this meeting. And to 7:33 p.m.with Mazón already personally present at the meeting, the CHJ sent an email to the Emergency Department of the Generalitat to report that the reservoir was flowing into the river 900,046 m3 per second, reaching up to 1,500.
He tank entered “Scenario 3”which means that the probability of breakage “is high or has already started”.
The ability to 37,000 million liters It was reached and the relief of the water with the valves open was less than the inflow of the flow that feeds the reservoir.
The possibility of a dam failure has been reached comment verbally by the members of the CHJ within CECOPI. Mazón is informed that this could happen “a large avenue of water” in the same area where the Poyo ravine begins, between the towns of Chiva and Cheste.
Remember, at this point, the president that according to emergency regulations, decisions at this meeting must be taken “by consensus”.
And while each of those present explained their assessment of the situation and deliberated, “the trigger came with the call” from Colombia Hugo Moranthe Secretary of State, advise from the Interior, Salome Pradaspresent there.
They were exactly the 8:00 p.m.and Morán issued a cry of alarm to warn that there was “a high risk” of the Forata dam bursting.
“At that moment, there was no longer any doubt”Mazón explains. The possible disaster that would have resulted from the failure of the dam, “much more catastrophic” than what happened, did not materialize. Even though this was the trigger forhas 8:11 p.m.will be sent mass message to the population via mobile phones.
The Valencian president even defends his minister, criticized this Thursday for having admitted that a technician had informed him at that time of the existence of the Es-Alert mobile alert system.
“It is a tool that does not appear in any protocol”because it is awaiting approval by the National Civil Protection Commission… “although it has already been used in Madrid a year ago, Why didn’t the Interior validate it?“.
