New DANA: Political Tensions Rise Over Victim Counts

New DANA: Political tensions rise over victim counts

While wounds from the last major flood remain open, a weather alert puts eastern Spain on edge. A Rossby wave disruption could trigger another isolated high-altitude low pressure system, according to circulating forecasts, requiring preparation for sudden floods. This warning reopens the same debate that erupted after the previous DANA: how many actually died, who failed to protect them, and if Spain is ready for the next one. The underlying message remains clear: everyone must fend for themselves.

How many fatalities did the Valencia DANA cause?

This issue is contentious. A specific figure — 5,000 deaths — has circulated for some time, serving as a litmus test for the credibility of the official narrative. Those repeating it demand real protection and predict immense grief; those questioning it argue there is no data to support it and claim spreading it only labels dissent as disinformation. The cross-accusations are explicit: those launching the figure are accused of fabricating rumors for hidden interests.

Neither side has provided a verifiable count. What is clear is that the number has become a weapon, and amidst the noise, the victims receive less discussion than they deserve. That is the first collateral damage: counting the dead as trench warfare ammunition rather than the starting point for demanding accountability.

The thesis that 'this is not a typical DANA'

Another school of thought argues that storm patterns have changed. Rain now arrives from Central Europe — Germany and France — and intensifies in the Gulf of Valencia, rather than forming near the Balearic Islands and dissipating there like classic DANAs. From this to suspicion is a short step: some claim modern episodes can remotely open dam sluice gates.

These hypotheses lack evidence. The idea that a weather system manipulates hydraulic infrastructure belongs to the repertoire of directed climate theories. To put it plainly: without data, it is smoke. The problem is that this smoke infiltrates serious warnings, contaminating the useful parts regarding soil, riverbeds, and pending works.

Is the sewage system ready for the next flood?

Infrastructure status is where the diagnosis holds weight. A sewage system operating at 15%, it is warned, cannot absorb heavy rainfall, especially in increasingly dry territory. Context underscores this: much of southern Europe faces intense drought, with 17% of the area on alert. This mix of parched soil and torrential rain multiplies flash flood risk. It is not bar talk; it is standard mechanics with harsher climate conditions.

Responses vary. Some assemble their own kits — slings, nylon cables with hooks, an old atmospheric diesel engine of 64 horsepower with a plumbing valve on the intake to cut water entry — while others simply hope the flood won't reach their street. The homemade gadget details reflect low confidence in timely rescue.

Is another DANA coming or is it alarmism?

Not everyone assumes a new episode will occur. Some respond skeptically to each alert: if so many are announced, none will surprise anyone eventually. The underlying suspicion is that constant alerts keep the population anxious or justify political decisions. Conversely, some cling to forecasts with the same faith others deny them.

Between these extremes, the most common stance is distrust of official reports but preparing emergency bags just in case. Simple calculation: over-preparing costs time and money; under-preparing, when water enters homes, costs everything else.

Political pulse: Mazón, Sánchez, and Ribera

Institutional dimensions persist. The Generalitat (regional government), Moncloa (central government headquarters), and Ecological Transition officials are pointed out as part of the decision chain preceding any flood, suggesting warnings arrive late. Some claim authorities knew and didn't act; others counter that alarmism fuels rumors and exhausts those repeating them.

Inter-administrative tensions over managing such emergencies have real effects: cross-accusations delay urgent needs, namely knowing who commands when water rises and what tools are available. While blame is debated, the territory remains exposed, and the bill falls on the usual victims.

The question remains open

With the new warning on the table, the operational issue — whether the system can withstand the next hit — lacks answers. The catastrophe metric also remains unresolved. Meanwhile, the territory prepares as best it can: those with old diesels and slings store them in trunks; others look to the sky hoping water passes by. Forecasts indicate another high-altitude low pressure system. The rest is a tug-of-war between distrust and reality.