In the wake of a sudden torrential downpour on the 29th of last month (local time) that resulted in 205 fatalities in southeastern Spain, questions are being raised about the responsibility of the authorities. Local residents are criticizing the authorities for their delayed and inadequate initial response, which they say exacerbated the scale of the damage.

On the 1st (local time), French daily Le Figaro and BFM TV reported that at 9:41 a.m., when the disaster struck, the Spanish meteorological agency upgraded the rain warning in the Valencia region to the highest red alert level. This stage indicates a high likelihood of significant disruption to daily activities, and people are advised to refrain from traveling if possible.

Firefighters and volunteers are removing mud from a flooded basement in Alfafar near Valencia, Spain, on the 3rd (local time). Photo by Reuters

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The meteorological agency spokesperson did not reiterate the red alert status via a video message until after noon, urging residents to remain inside buildings such as homes or workplaces. At around 1:14 p.m., Valencia Governor Carlos Maz?n posted on his social media that the intensity of the rain would somewhat subside by around 6 p.m.

However, from 4:30 p.m., the situation rapidly deteriorated, and the regional government did not convene a disaster safety meeting until 5 p.m. Even at this point, no emergency disaster alert text messages had been sent to local residents.

By 8:30 p.m., an enormous amount of rain had fallen, causing nearby rivers and streams to flood rapidly. Citizens stuck in traffic jams on their way home had no way to escape and became victims. This is why many of the deceased were found inside their cars.

The time when an emergency disaster alert text was finally sent to all local residents was 8:12 p.m., by which point the situation was already beyond control. In other words, it took more than 10 hours from the issuance of the meteorological agency's red alert for the authorities to send an emergency disaster warning.

On the 3rd (local time), recovery work is underway in Catarroja, Spain, which was affected by flooding. Photo by AP News Agency

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Attorney Isabel Diaz criticized on social media, saying, "The authorities' response was careless and irresponsible," and blamed the incompetence of those in charge for the loss of lives.

European Parliament member Sandra Gomez, a former Valencia city councilor, also stated, "My husband barely escaped from a flooded highway," and criticized the lack of proper information during the height of the downpour.

Cardona Teruel, a resident of Paiporta, where more than 60 people died, expressed frustration, saying, "What good is a warning if it only comes after the worst has happened?" The central government in Madrid also stated that the responsibility for analyzing dangerous situations and determining the level of emergency lies with the local authorities.

A volunteer is walking on Paiporta Street in the Valencia region of Spain, which was affected by flooding, on the 3rd (local time). Photo by AFP Yonhap News

In response, Governor Maz?n argued, "We followed protocols standardized and coordinated by the central government," and insisted that neither he nor his officials are meteorologists.

A representative of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) emphasized at a regular UN briefing that "it is important for early warnings to reach those in need, and such early warnings must lead to preemptive action."

However, when asked whether the Spanish authorities sent the disaster safety text messages too late, the representative said, "That is an issue for the Spanish authorities to review," declining to comment further.