Miguel Barrachina denounces delays in dam emergency plans

Miguel Barrachina, the Valencian Minister of Agriculture, Water, Livestock, and Fisheries, has denounced delays in the implementation of emergency plans for state-owned dams in the Valencian Community. Barrachina claims that the central Spanish government has failed to complete these protocols despite a deadline of April 2025 set by existing guidelines.

He emphasized that these plans are critical for the safety of municipalities and residents located downstream from these hydraulic infrastructures. The emergency protocols are intended to establish response procedures, coordination mechanisms, and warning systems for the population in the event of an emergency or infrastructure compromise.

Barrachina noted that the Buseo dam in the province of Valencia is the first in the region to have its emergency plan fully implemented, contrasting it with the pending status of other state-owned dams. He urged the central government to accelerate these actions to ensure public safety ahead of potential intense rainfall episodes.