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Elisabeth Gil Martínez and Francisco Ruiz Martínez remain the only two victims whose bodies have not been recovered from the devastating October 2024 floods in Valencia. As the second anniversary approaches, their families express profound grief over the unresolved closure, describing the situation as an "open wound" that prevents proper mourning.
Of the 233 official fatalities, Elisabeth (38) and Francisco (64) are the sole individuals whose remains have eluded search efforts for 728 days. Elisabeth was swept away with her mother Elvira, whose body was found shortly after; Francisco heroically saved his grandchildren before being dragged by the Magro River surge. Despite extensive searches using surveillance data and batidas extending up to 24 kilometers, no traces have been found.
Ernesto Martínez, Elisabeth’s brother, describes a dual reality: while he has buried his sister, his niece Iván (19) still lacks physical closure. He maintains trust in the military’s promise to continue searching, stating, "I trust that person." Conversely, Saray Ruiz, Francisco’s daughter, suffers from severe psychological impacts, including depression and tics, noting there is "no place to cry" without the bodies. Both families reject the notion that time heals this specific trauma, emphasizing the need for continued forensic effort rather than bureaucratic finality.
Elisabeth was legally declared dead in May 2025, a process Ernesto had to facilitate for his nephew despite mental resistance. The families argue that the tragedy could have been mitigated better, pointing to failures in authority response during the initial DANA event.