The judicial investigation into the catastrophic floods that struck Valencia in October, resulting in 228 fatalities, is set to take a significant turn as the presiding judge, Nuria Ruiz Tobarra, has approved a new list of witnesses to provide testimonies about the events that unfolded during the devastating weather phenomenon known as 'gota fría'.

Among those called to testify is Héctor González, a former communications director for the Generalitat's Department of Justice and Interior, who had issued a press release alerting authorities to the flood risks 24 hours prior to the disaster.

The press release, which is considered pivotal to the investigation, informed that the government led by Carlos Mazón was aware of the impending 'gota fría' at least a full day before a mass alert was sent to mobile devices at 8:11 PM on the day of the flooding.

This alert coincided with mounting reports of missing persons and individuals trapped in their homes.

The communication, disseminated via the Es Alert system, is now a focal point of the inquiry, with the judge suggesting that a more timely and precise alert could have saved lives.

The press release from the Central Emergency Coordination Center of the Generalitat indicated the possibility of local flooding due to substantial rainfall in urbanized areas.

Local newspapers reported on the government's warnings, highlighting potential school closures and road disruptions due to expected rainfall of up to 150 liters.

On the day of the disaster, the emergency service 112 handled nearly 20,000 distress calls.

Despite having prior knowledge of the flood risk, President Mazón described the decision to suspend classes at the University of Valencia as 'exaggerated,' asserting that the storm would later move away from the area.

The judge has also summoned Salvador Ramón, chief commander of the Military Emergency Unit (UME), to testify.

The government delegate in Valencia, Pilar Bernabé, previously stated that the national government had offered the UME's assistance eight hours before the mass alert was transmitted, but it was not until 2:53 PM that the former councilor Pradas formally requested their deployment.

The judge has dismissed claims linking the Forata dam to the flooding event, branding them as unfounded.

Testimonies presented in court revealed that the dam mitigated the impact of the storm, with one engineering expert asserting that its failure could have led to a far higher death toll.

The judge pointed out that there was no evidence that the dam's condition contributed to the flooding.

Additionally, the judge has approved witness testimonies from four mayors: Sergio Vilar (Monserrat), Andoni León (Pedralba), Amparo Pardo (Godelleta), and Ismael Corell (Turís).

These local officials are expected to provide insight into the circumstances of the flooding and local government responses.

Expert testimonies have also been scheduled, including appearances by Alejandro Pérez, a professor of Physical Geography, and Rafael Armengot, a meteorologist and member of the Valencian Meteorology Association (AVAMET).