Extended original text by Nicoli Polachini:

Who is responsible for the DANA disaster? Nature or human negligence?

On the evening of November 9th, 2024, a protest in Valencia gathered hundreds of people demanding the resignation of the president of the autonomous community of Valencia after one of the worst climate disasters of the century in Spain. Known as DANA, the event left a trail of destruction, affecting thousands of people and raising questions about the lack of preparedness and response from authorities. During the protest, demonstrators voiced their outrage over what they saw as a serious failure of governance. On the day of the heaviest rainfall, when the region experienced a historic amount of precipitation, the population received no prior warnings. This lack of alerts worsened both the material and emotional damage, leaving entire families homeless and at the mercy of insufficient emergency responses. Despite the devastation, a month after the horrific event, the issue is already beginning to fade from the headlines. However, for thousands of people, the reality remains profoundly altered. Homes were destroyed, and uncertainty looms over the victims. Where will these people live? How will society deal with the increasing number of "climate refugees" emerging due to the lack of proper mitigation and prevention policies? This is a matter of extreme urgency that requires ongoing attention, as, unfortunately, disasters like this are becoming more frequent. The recent catastrophe in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, by the end of April 2024, is yet another example that these events are not isolated incidents. Valencia is further proof that without immediate action, extreme weather events will become part of our new global reality.