Two years after one of the worst tragedies in the history of the Valencian Community—the DANA of October 29, 2024, which claimed 233 lives and severely affected tens of thousands of people—the main victims’ associations are organizing a program of commemorative events from Sunday, October 25, through Saturday, October 31.
The schedule will combine memorial services, institutional tributes, and social protest rallies in Chiva, Cheste, Albal, Benetússer, Catarroja, Massanassa, Paiporta, Alaquàs, and Valencia.
Protests and Social Marches
Regarding the regional marches, on Thursday the 29th at 11:00 a.m., two separate processions will set out from the Foia de Buñol—one from Chiva and the other from Cheste—and will join at 12:00 p.m. under the bridge on the CV-50. In the afternoon, at 5:00 p.m., two marches will set out from Albal and Benetússer to join around 5:45 p.m. at the bridge over the ravine between Catarroja and Massanassa.
However, the largest demonstration is expected to take place on Saturday, October 31, in Valencia. This event coincides with the monthly protest organized by various social groups and victims’ associations, but it is expected to draw a much larger crowd this time due to the significance of the date on which it is being held.
The demonstration will begin at 6:00 p.m. in Plaza de la Virgen, in front of the Palau de la Generalitat, and, in addition to honoring the victims, participants will demand accountability, solutions, and answers from the various political officials who were in charge during the emergency.
Tributes and memorial events
On Sunday, October 25, at 10:30 a.m., the Castell d’Alaquàs will host the commemorative gathering “Memory, Unity, and Future,” organized by the Association of Victims and Those Affected by the Valencia Storm, with the aim of naming each of the 233 fatalities and supporting their families on such a difficult day. During the event, the documentary “Todo lo que perdimos” will be screened, the Nova Muixeranga d’Algemesí will perform, and there will be musical performances.
On Thursday, October 29, at 7:00 p.m., at ground zero of the disaster next to the Poyo ravine in Paiporta, the event “La caixa de la memòria” will be held: a gathering of victims and volunteers to symbolize the collective mourning and the emotional state that persists in the towns and regions affected by the tragedy.
At the Talía Theater in Valencia, the Association of Fatal Victims of the 2024 Storm has organized an event on Saturday, October 31, at 11:30 a.m., focused on presenting awards to professionals who alerted the public or documented the impact of the disaster.
The award recipients are José Ángel Núñez (head of Climatology at Aemet in the Valencian Community), Victòria Rosselló (head of meteorology at À Punt), and writers Carmen Amoraga and Maxi Roldán, authors of the charity book “Lágrimas de barro” (“Tears of Clay”), whose royalties have been donated to the organization.
