Barcelona, Spain — A state funeral was held on October 29, 2025, marking one year since the devastating floods in Valencia and its surrounding regions claimed the lives of over 200 people.
The ceremony, which was attended by King Felipe VI, Queen Leticia, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, and 625 family members of the victims, unfolded in the Ciudad de las Artes y Ciencias cultural complex against a backdrop of ongoing protests over the government’s handling of the disaster.
Carlos Mazón, President of the Valencian Government, was also in attendance, against the wishes of many victims’ families, who labeled him a “murderer” and a “negligent criminal”, as reported by newspaper El País.
“We tried to do the best we could in unimaginable circumstances, but it was not enough in many cases, and today we have to recognize it,” he said.
2024 floods
Torrential rains struck the Valencia region on October 29, 2024, prompting Spain’s Meteorological Agency (AEMET) to issue an orange weather warning for south of Valencia at 6:42 a.m.
It was not until after 8:00 p.m., however, that the Valencian government sent an emergency cellphone alert to warn residents to stay indoors.
Valencia was the hardest-hit region by the flood, locally known as a DANA (isolated high-level depression). It resulted in the deaths of 229 individuals in the immediate Valencia area, and 237 total.
The DANA resulted from a gota fria (cold drop), a phenomenon where a sudden temperature drop leads to intense downpours. In a single day, the region saw a year’s worth of rainfall.
Experts have noted that while the area is historically prone to flooding, climate change and rapid urbanization exacerbated the disaster. Paved and concrete areas prevented water from being absorbed into the ground, intensifying the scale of destruction.
State funeral
The ceremony began with a reading of the names of all 237 victims, with many family members bringing photographs or wearing t-shirts with the faces of their deceased loved ones.
Andrea Ferrari Canut, whose mother, Eva, lost her life due to the floods, spoke at the funeral, saying:
“I want this event to serve not only as an homage to those who died, but also as a recognition of those of us who are still here, walking with scars on our souls but with a steadfast gaze.”
Image source: Patricia Raduá via X.
King Felipe VI also addressed the congregation, saying that the floods left “desolate destruction” and “immense pain” that will continue to be felt, and hoped that his speech would become a “hug” for the family members and victims.
“[It is] necessary to continue analysing the causes and circumstances of the tragedy in order to learn rigorously and calmly how to improve our capacity and face future catastrophes,” he said.
Amongst other speakers was Virginia Ortiz Riquelme, the cousin of Juan Alejandro Ortiz, one of victims of the floods. In her speech, she thanked the workers who combed through “caves, strips and mud” and “fulfilled their promise” to find the bodies of the victims.
“Floods are the natural disaster which causes the most deaths in Spain”, she said. “But it was not the cause of the catastrophe that we have suffered”.
“It is he who neglects his duty, despite knowing that his neglect could result in the loss of life, who commits the original act which leads to these deaths” she continued.
Protests against Mazón
Public outrage toward Mazón has intensified over the past year. He is accused of inaction and negligence during the flood, as he allegedly spent four hours at a restaurant with journalist Maribel Vilaplana on the day of the tragedy.
His government also shut down the Valencian Emergency Unit, which was created to coordinate emergency response teams by the previous administration.
On Saturday, October 25, tens of thousands of protesters marched in Valencia against the politician, calling for his resignation and imprisonment.
Throughout the day of the state funeral, hundreds of people also protested against Mazón by laying out 229 thermal blankets in front of government offices, with the names of each victim written on them.
Featured image: King Felipe and Queen Leticia during the flower offering in the ceremony’s minute of silence for the victims of the DANA.
Source: Casa Real de Su Majestad el Rey via X.
