Medical forensic response during the flood in Valencia (Spain), October 29th, 2024

Abstract

The flood in Valencia (Spain) has so far caused 224 casualties, making it the catastrophic event with the highest number of fatalities in Spain's recent history. This catastrophe involving a high number of victims, a large geographical extension and the destruction of infrastructures posed a major challenge to the forensic response. This article presents the work carried out during an open disaster, following the adhesion of the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Science of Valencia to the application of ‘Real Decreto 32/2009 approving the National Protocol for Forensic and Scientific Police intervention in multiple casualties events’ in Spain. The excellent performance of the members of the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Science of Valencia and the rest of Institutes of Legal Medicine and Forensic Science of Spain, together with the specialists of the Civil Guard and National Police corps, allowed the fast and efficient location, transfer, autopsy, identification and delivery of all the victims to their relatives. Likewise, some recommendations for action are suggested as a result of the experience acquired to face future events of similar characteristics.