The head of the Emergency Department at 2:44 p.m. on the day of the DANA: "The ravines are on the verge of collapse."

The former regional secretary of emergencies and former deputy head of the Valencian Ministry of the Interior and Justice, Emilio Argüeso, warned at 2:44 p.m. on October 29—almost six hours before the public notice was sent—that the situation in some municipalities was already critical. He expressed this in a WhatsApp group with senior officials from the Ministry of Social Services, Equality, and Housing, which is included in an expert report provided by his defense to the court case regarding the DANA disaster and to which ARA has had access.

The document, prepared by a computer scientist, includes a technical analysis of a series of conversations between Argüeso and other senior officials of the Generalitat (Catalan Government), such as the First Vice President and Minister of Social Services, Equality, and Housing, Susana Camarero, and the former Minister of the Interior and Justice, Salomé Pradas. There were also technicians from the Emergency Department, several mayors, and security force leaders.

The most striking message is one that Argüeso exchanges with Camarero in the WhatsApp group called Conselleria Servicios Sociales, Igualdad y Vivienda (Ministry of Social Services, Equality, and Housing): at 2:44 p.m., the former regional secretary tells the Valencian government's deputy that he is in the municipality of Carlet (located next to the Magre River). He then adds: "It is raining very heavily and with a lot of electrical equipment," and issues the warning: "The ravines are about to collapse." Camarero responds: "Joppa. If you need anything, let us know." Later, at 5:22 p.m., the vice president said: "The Utiel Requena area is getting complicated. If we have anything there, let me know. Please be on the lookout." Minutes later (5:34 p.m.) she warned regarding the Alborajo nursing home (Foia de Buñol): "Please don't let anyone leave. We'll let you know in a bit, because there may be evacuations."

Another notable conversation took place on the 28th between Argüeso and Inmaculada Piles, the head of the Emergency Department's service. "What's the issue?" she asked Piles.

The president of the Generalitat, Carlos Mazón, does not appear in Argüeso's messages, but there are requests from the Presidency's office at 12:05 p.m. on October 29 to make trips during the morning in Xàtiva. "I need him to go," says Argüeso.

The contribution of the conversations by the defense of the former regional secretary occurs one day before his statement and that of former minister Salomé Pradas as defendants, in what is expected to be a key day to determine the evolution of the investigation led by Judge Nuria Ruiz Tobarra.