Valencia authorities announce payments for families of those killed during DANA

18 Feb 2026

The head of the Valencian regional government, Juanfran Pérez Llorca, announced that each family of those who died in the DANA floods will receive €80,000 in compensation during a session of the regional parliament. The decision was introduced 477 days after the disaster, which took away 229 lives.

“I want to take one more step to repair the damage caused by this unprecedented catastrophe. It is just,” Llorca said.

Until now, direct payments to the families of the victims had been provided only by the Spanish government, at €72,000 per family.

The issue of compensation amounts has come under renewed scrutiny following a recent debate around the railway disaster in Adamuz, where total payouts to each victim’s family could reach €216,000 once state compensation and insurance payments are combined. Comparisons between the two cases sparked anger among relatives of the DANA victims, who pointed out that the Valencian authorities had so far failed to allocate any regional funds for compensation.

Llorca also outlined additional measures that the regional government plans to introduce in the near future.

Inheritance tax

In his speech, he stressed that the regional government will continue its policy of easing the tax burden for low- and middle-income residents. He also highlighted the expansion of income thresholds for social tax deductions, which, he said, will allow nearly one million people in the region to claim relief on expenses such as dental care, sports, treatment for rare diseases or the purchase of glasses.

Llorca also pointed to the extension of inheritance and gift tax relief, now set at up to 25% for siblings and nieces or nephews, rising to 50% in 2027. He added that the Valencian government has begun phasing out inheritance tax for family businesses and plans to cut the overall property transfer tax from 10% to 9% from June.

Healthcare

In the healthcare sphere, the head of the regional government highlighted the approval of a new decree on primary healthcare and the launch of a strategic plan to tackle cancer. The stated goals include increasing the number of psychologists, introducing new technologies, and guaranteeing that treatment begins within seven days of a diagnosis.

Housing policy

He also devoted special attention to the VIVE programme, aimed at expanding the stock of public housing. According to Llorca, 319 municipalities have already joined the scheme, under which 4,800 homes have been built so far.

In addition, the regional government will tighten oversight of how public housing is allocated. Llorca said a new criterion — the applicant’s “local ties” — will be introduced, giving priority to residents with roots in the area when distributing public flats.