In a significant development regarding the investigation into the catastrophic flooding that struck Valencia on October 29, which resulted in 225 deaths and three missing persons, Judge Nuria Ruiz Tobarra of the First Instance and Instruction Court number 3 in Catarroja has scheduled testimonies from key political figures.

The hearings for the first suspects involved will take place on April 11, when Salomé Pradas, the former Secretary of Justice, Interior, and Emergency Management of the Generalitat, along with Emilio Argüeso, the former Secretary of that department, are due to provide statements.

Both Pradas and Argüeso were dismissed by President Carlos Mazón four weeks post-tragedy and have been designated as investigated parties concerning homicide and reckless injury, offenses which carry potential prison sentences ranging from one to four years and up to three years, respectively.

Additionally, government officials will be summoned as witnesses on April 14, including Pilar Bernabé, the Government Delegate in the Valencia Community, representing the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSPV-PSOE), and Vicent Mompó, the President of the Valencia Provincial Council from the People's Party (PP).

Previously, the court dismissed a request from the ultra-right group Hazte Oír to investigate Bernabé, emphasizing that emergency management during the flooding falls under the jurisdiction of regional authorities.

On March 29, two emergency technicians are also expected to appear as witnesses.

In this role, they are legally obliged to provide truthful testimony, with potential repercussions for perjury.

Judge Ruiz Tobarra has declined a request from the popular accusation led by Acció Cultural del País Valencià to obtain information regarding the official vehicles used by President Mazón and his security detail on the day of the flood.

The judge cited the president's status as a high-ranking official, stating that the court lacks jurisdiction to investigate his actions, which would require approval from the Superior Court of Justice of the Valencia Community for any potential inquiry into Mazón’s conduct.

Although the president had the opportunity to testify voluntarily, he opted against it.

Similarly, requests for investigative measures regarding the vehicles assigned to Pradas and Argüeso have been denied, with the judge noting insufficient evidence that these vehicles failed to participate timely in the meetings of the Emergency Coordination Center (Cecopi).

The judge also pointed out that high-ranking emergency officials are not currently under investigation.

Amid ongoing questions concerning the operational effectiveness of emergency warnings, the judge has acknowledged the importance of gathering voluntary recordings from the 29 state, regional, and municipal entities involved in the emergency response.

Notably, during the Cecopi meeting, called at 17:00 by the Emergency Management department, no minutes or video recordings were made, raising concerns.

Judge Ruiz Tobarra has expressed interest in receiving any relevant documentation from those institutions that were involved remotely in the emergency operations.

One of the critical issues under scrutiny is the delay in issuing a mass text alert to mobile phones, which was dispatched at 20:11—well after the onset of the disaster—which saw many individuals trapped and in perilous situations.

Evidence indicates that emergency responders had already received approximately 15,000 distress calls before the mobile alert was sent out.