Aemet and the Deadly Silence of Barranco Del Poyo: the Agony That Could've Been Avoided

The WhatsApp messages from the head of Climatology at AEMET in the Valencian Community, José Ángel Núñez, have uncovered the terrifying truth:during the catastrophe on October 29, when the Poyo ravine overflowed and left 224 dead in the province of Valencia, AEMET never alerted the Emergency Coordination Center (Cecopi) about the imminent danger. The state agency, which was supposed to be the pillar of meteorological and emergency information, focused solely on the situation of the Forata dam and the Magro river, completely neglecting the ravine that, according to the Generalitat, was never mentioned in the crisis meetings.

These messages, sent by AEMET's own head, demonstrate the agency's negligence and lack of coordination with the Júcar Hydrographic Confederation (CHJ), responsible for monitoring the ravine's flow. The CHJ never mentioned the risk of overflow, and AEMET, knowing the severity of the situation, did not alert local authorities or the population. The WhatsApp messages make it clear that Cecopi, guided by data from AEMET and CHJ, could not act in time to prevent a tragedy of such magnitude.

The Government of Pedro Sánchez, represented by figures like delegate Pilar Bernabé and secretary Hugo Morán, is equally exposed. The lack of communication and omission of vital information about the Poyo ravine further exacerbate the responsibility of national authorities in this disaster. The result: more than 200 lives lost, a tragedy that, with proper alert, could have been avoided.

The inaction and disinterest of AEMET in this crisis reflect a severe incompetence in emergency management that can't go unpunished. The lack of foresight and action in the face of an announced disaster is a responsibility that must be assumed by the institutions in charge of protecting the citizenry.