José María Ángel serves as the regional secretary for Security and Emergencies for the Valencian Government. On Monday, during initial verifications, he stated that no abnormality had been detected to justify canceling the Cullera Jellyfish Festival, which experienced structural failures that led to one death and dozens of injuries.
Ángel testified before the Justice Commission of Les Corts Valencianes to outline the actions taken at dawn on Saturday, August 13, when a storm, described as a thermal explosion event, caused significant damage to the festival’s installations and resulted in fatalities and injuries. A young man from Daimiel and multiple other injuries were reported.
He reminded the commission that the case remains under judicial investigation and praised the emergency teams for their rapid evacuation of the building where more than 50,000 attendees were gathered.
Ángel noted that pre-validations did not reveal abnormalities warranting any action beyond the event’s execution. He added that the administration would pursue legal action or impose sanctions if the judicial process uncovers otherwise.
The official pointed out that the contracting company possessed all required permits, including authorization from the OCA (Authorized Controlling Body), which verifies compliance with applicable safety standards.
He also explained that the State Meteorological Service had set a yellow alert for storms and high heat that weekend, though the warning was limited to Castellón province and the interior of Valencia, while Cullera lies off the coast of that interior region.
Ángel stated that the administration participated in all mandated procedures, including the Local Safety Board and the inspection of buildings by the Security and Emergency Response Service.
Specifically, he asserted that the Generalitat’s Police inspected the venue on August 9 and August 12, at which time the facilities had not yet been fully established. Documentation, capacity limits, emergency exits, security personnel, and other elements required by health and hospitality regulations were being verified.
He recalled that the first call came in at 04:04 on Saturday. The initial notice described a storm in the festival area with no reported injuries or property damage, yet multiple emergency services were already mobilized, including firefighters, CICU, Red Cross, Civil Guard, Local Police, and Generalitat Police.
During the second call at 04:14, the reports shifted to the collapse of structures and injuries. Ángel emphasized that it is not the Generalitat that decides resource deployment, but each responding unit that determines the appropriate level of mobilization based on the facts as they unfold.
In this regard, he argued that the response from emergency services was appropriate and enabled the evacuation of the entire venue.
Opposition’s suspicions
Opposition groups lamented the limited number of statements and questioned whether guidance had been offered to Cullera City Council in light of the forecast weather, or whether the Generalitat could have suspended the event if it was deemed risky.
Additionally, Unides Podem evaluated whether it would be prudent to tighten protocols and broaden the criteria for canceling large macro-events should meteorological conditions again reach the severity observed in August.
Ángel reiterated that the Generalitat has the authority to prohibit an event if norms are violated, but asserted that the festival possessed all necessary documents, including an OCA certification.
He concluded by saying that public officials should not confine themselves to their own jurisdiction. Instead, they should focus on how responses can be improved and should openly reflect on lessons learned from the incident. The discussion underscored a commitment to strengthening future safety measures and preparedness across agencies (Public statements, August 2024).