Bon Dia! ?? Here’s your Thursday news update.
A weekend post will be out shortly.

---

Weather Alert

The Aemet meteorological agency has issued a yellow alert for strong winds in the Valencian Community. Temperatures are expected to be higher than normal for January, with the possibility of showers. Read more on Las Provincias. Emergency services have also been placed on high alert due to the increased risk of forest fires fueled by strong winds. Details from À Punt.

---

Flood Recovery

Political tensions continue to affect flood recovery efforts in the region. Valencia’s regional government is requesting additional funds from the federal government to accelerate recovery efforts. More on Las Provincias.

Beach cleanups are proceeding at uneven speeds, with urban beaches receiving more attention than others. Valencia Plaza reports on the disparities. The Ayuntamiento of Valencia has criticized the federal government for delays in addressing the cleanup. À Punt has the story.

---

Secret Passages Revealed by Floods

Flood cleanup efforts have uncovered a network of underground tunnels and shelters dating back to the Spanish Civil War in Paiporta. Some homes had to be evacuated due to the risk of collapse after the floods expanded these structures. Levante has the full story.

---

50 Years Since Franco’s Death

On Wednesday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez launched the first in a series of events commemorating the death of Francisco Franco, Spain’s military dictator from 1939 to 1975. In his speech, Sánchez highlighted the importance of Spain’s transition to democracy and warned against the growing influence of far-right movements across Europe, including a controversial tech billionaire. Read more in this Reuters report.

---

Medical System Under Strain

Hospitals across Valencia are struggling to cope with a surge in respiratory infections, including Covid-19 and RSV. Waitlists for hospital beds and emergency services have been reported. Read more on Levante.

---

Crime and Corruption News

A police captain in Betera is under investigation for allegedly tipping off drug dealers. El País reports. This comes on the heels of a a Guardia Civil captain at the Port of Valencia recently arrested for aiding drug traffickers. Details on Las Provincias. In an unrelated incident, 940 kilos of cocaine were seized at a truck loading facility in Alfafar. Levante has the story.

---

Wealth and Poverty Map of Valencia

Valencia Plaza has published a visual report on the city’s growing wealth inequality, highlighting the richest and poorest neighborhoods. Explore the report here.

---

New Life for Nou Mestalla

After nearly 16 years of delays, construction has finally resumed on the Nou Mestalla stadium. More on what to expect from Las Provincias.

---

That’s all for today. Check back for happenings and events this weekend!

Happy Holidays! ?

Today is Día de los Reyes—Spain’s traditional day for opening presents. It’s also a national holiday, so keep in mind that most stores will be closed. Let’s dive into this week’s news roundup:

25 Years of Transformation

Valencia has undergone incredible changes over the past 25 years!
A fascinating visual story from Las Provincias highlights how the city’s population has grown by 11% since 2000. Even more remarkable is the surge in international residents: they now make up nearly 18% of Valencia’s population, compared to just 2% in 2000.
?? Read the full story here.

Flood Recovery Updates

Efforts to recover from last year’s devastating floods continue:

• Car Removal: Over 30,000 cars destroyed in the floods have been cleared from junkyards, but 100,000 remain, according to Las Provincias.
• Dam Repairs: Nearly half of Valencia’s flood management dams have been severely damaged and need urgent repairs. Read the report here.
• Preserving Memories: Volunteers are working at Feria Valencia to rescue flood-soaked documents and photographs, more on the project at Las Provincias.
• Meanwhile, El País reports that over 20 underground parking garages remain inaccessible due to mud and debris. ?? Read more here.

Urban Planning Under Review

The floods have sparked discussions on urban development in the Valencia region:

• The Turia River diversion influenced floodwaters in unexpected ways. Levante has this discussion of how the Plan Sur saved Valencia but condemned L’Horta Sud.
• Could delayed projects have prevented flooding in the Poyo ravine area? Levante looks at what could have been done.

Valencia is Growing

Big news: Valencia is now Spain’s third-largest city, surpassing Seville with a population of over 800,000. ?? Details here.

On the tourism front:

• Valencia welcomed a record-breaking 11.2 million international tourists last year from A Punt.
• Spain overall saw 88 million visitors, contributing €120 billion to the economy, according to Valencia Plaza.

Upbeat Economic Outlook

The Valencian economy is also on the rise:

• Unemployment in the region has dropped to its lowest in 17 years, reports Valencia Plaza.
• Economists are predicting 3.1% GDP growth for Spain in 2025, says a new study by the financial newspaper.

Ending on a Sweet Note

Utiel has set a new record by baking a 56-meter-long Roscón de Reyes! Check out the photos of this incredible dessert in Valencia Plaza. ?? See the record-breaking Roscón.

Enjoy the holiday, and we’ll be back with more updates soon. ¡Felices Reyes!