Llorca now announces compensation of 80,000 euros for the families of the victims of the DANA storm

ValenciaThe Valencian regional government will now pay €80,000 in compensation to the families of the victims of the devastating storm of October 29, 2024. The announcement was made this Wednesday by the head of the regional government, Juanfran Pérez Llorca, during his first question time in the Valencian Parliament (Les Corts). Until now, the families of the 230 victims had only received €72,000 in compensation from the Spanish government. The regional government had only provided aid for material damages. According to Llorca, today's payment is a further step towards helping heal the wounds of the tragedy. "It is a measure of justice with which we take another step towards helping to alleviate the damage of this unprecedented catastrophe," he summarized.

The announcement by the head of the Valencian government comes weeks after the Valencian president accused the Spanish government of treating the victims of the DANA storm as "second-class victims." His argument was that the victims of the Adamuz and Gelida train accidents would receive three times the compensation of those killed in the storm. "It's very sad and regrettable," he complained. Lorca's words were met with a response from the very associations representing the victims of the disaster, who labeled the comparison "deceptive." "We consider it especially serious and outrageous that he has attempted to compare the fatalities of the DANA storm, the result of negligent and criminal management of an emergency, with the victims of a train accident," they emphasized. They also pointed out that the storm victims did not feel they were victims of any "discriminatory treatment." "Using that argument to justify the inaction of the Valencian government is deeply irresponsible," they concluded.

The crux of the controversy stirred up by the Valencian president is that the victims of the two tragedies can receive direct, non-refundable aid from the Spanish government of 72,000 euros. In other words, they receive the same amount of public money. What changes is the insurance system linked to railway tragedies, which is paid by the companies. This amounts to 72,121.46 euros, which, although not paid by the State, in the case of Adamuz, the Moncloa Palace (the Prime Minister's office) advances the payment to avoid, as on other occasions, the funds arriving years later. Finally, the same figure of 72,121.46 euros is earmarked for compensation under the Compulsory Passenger Insurance. In total, 216,000 euros.