The controversy over the actions of the Military Emergency Unit (EMU) during the murderous DANA which struck Valencia last October, adds a new chapter marked by the contradictions and half-truths Government of Pedro Sánchez. EMU general chief Javier Marcos substantially changed his initial version of the unit’s response to the emergency, raising doubts about the handling of the crisis. During a press conference held at the Palace of Moncloa, in the presence of the Minister of Defense, Margarita RoblesGeneral Marcos tried to defend the EMU’s rapid action, saying that his troops began deploying on October 29 at 3:41 p.m., “in anticipation of official orders.”
This new version contrasts sharply with his previous statements, in which recognized delays in intervention due to the Valencian Community’s delay in requesting aid. Until now, the government’s version accused the Valencian president, Carlos Mazón, of having delayed seeking help from the entire province of Valencia. The Minister of Defense declared on November 1 that “the military were all ready to intervene, but management of the emergency fell to the Generalitat.” When asked why the Armed Forces hadn’t deployed with more troops since DANA began, Robles revealed that, “without a doubt,” that was what she had been wondering.
Well, the head of the EMU says not only did he act quickly, but he even preceded official orders while on November 4 he declared: “I can have 1,000 soldiers at the emergency gate, but I cannot enter legally until the emergency director authorizes me to do so”, recognizing that his unit is not did not intervene quickly.
The general presented images and data to support his current position, highlighting the presence of the EMU “from the first minute” and highlighting the participation of 10,000 soldiers in the areawith approximately 8,500 soldiers working daily. However, these declarations clash head-on with the reality documented during the first critical hours of the emergency.
The rectification by the head of the EMU comes amid intense political controversy, particularly after criticism from the Madrid president, Isabel Diaz Ayusowho questions the delay in military deployment. General Marcos now claims that, although the Valencian Community only decreed operational situation 1 at 2 p.m., the unit was already on alert and decided to act on its own initiative upon seeing that “the situation was becoming really difficult.”
According to the new official account, the first vehicle left the Bétera base at 3:41 p.m., taking almost two hours to reach Chiva, as evidenced by the images recorded at 6:05 p.m. on the A-3. However, this chronology does not explain why the general had previously recognized that the response was conditioned by the delay in the formal request for intervention from the Valencian authorities.
This apparent contradiction in official explanations raises serious doubts about the coordination between different administrations during the emergency and about the EMU activation protocols. The situation is particularly serious if we consider that DANA caused 216 deaths and considerable material damage in the region.
