Bon dia! Here’s your weekly roundup of news for Monday, 14 July.
Extreme Weather
A powerful lightning and hailstorm on Saturday led to the cancellation of several public events and caused widespread damage. In the Marina, a woman and her daughter were struck by lightning while taking shelter under a tree.
ABC | À Punt | Levante-EMV | Las Provincias
Meanwhile, extreme heat continues to grip the region. Valencia recorded 62 heat-related deaths in just one week, close to the total number of deaths for all of July 2024. Temperatures in the Albufera lagoon hit 30°C, adding strain to an already fragile ecosystem. A wildfire in Tarragona burned over 3,000 acres and sent smoke as far as Murcia.
Las Provincias (1) | Las Provincias (2) | El País
In response, the Ayuntamiento has launched a preparedness campaign, training families in emergency planning and providing guidance on how to assemble home emergency kits.
ABC
Politics in Valencia
Tensions flared in Torre Pacheco, Murcia, where violent clashes erupted between far-right groups and North African migrants following an assault on an elderly man. The unrest comes amid controversy over Spain’s efforts to house unaccompanied migrant minors, which has sparked backlash from far-right factions, including Vox.
Reuters | El País
The ninth protest against Generalitat President Carlos Mazón is scheduled for 29 July in Catarroja. Demonstrators continue to hold him accountable for the mismanagement of the October floods, marking the longest-running protest movement in the region’s history.
El País | Levante-EMV
At the national level, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez faces increasing pressure over a growing corruption and sex scandal involving members of the Socialist Party.
Levante-EMV
In a further sign of political tension, the headquarters of the left-wing coalition party Compromís in Picanya was vandalized with neo-Nazi graffiti. A similar attack targeted the Socialist party headquarters the week before.
El País
Flood Recovery
The Metrovalencia workers’ union has accused management of rushing to reopen flood-damaged stations without completing essential safety works, citing faulty crossings and unfinished platforms.
El País
Catarroja will install 100 blue tiles across the town to mark the floodwater levels from October’s disaster. A court-led investigation is also underway to determine accountability for the botched emergency response.
Valencia Plaza
Economy
President Mazón has requested €1.8 billion in loans from private banks to cover overdue government bills, underscoring the severity of Valencia’s liquidity crisis.
El País | Valencia Plaza
Meanwhile, immigration has increased by 30% over the past three years and is now a key driver of economic growth in the Comunitat Valenciana.
Levante-EMV
Changing City and Development
Cabanyal is becoming a hotbed for investment, especially in co-living and flex-living developments near the beach.
Valencia Plaza
Despite rising demand for housing, new construction in Valencia has slowed to a crawl due to rising costs, labor shortages, and administrative delays. Rental prices continue to hit record highs.
Valencia Plaza (1) | Valencia Plaza (2)
A new report highlights that converting traffic lanes into bike lanes can reduce vehicle emissions by up to 45%.
Las Provincias
Crime and Policing
A fire in a residential building forced the evacuation of over 200 people, with 20 hospitalized for smoke inhalation. Police are investigating both the cause and a possible arson attempt nearby.
Las Provincias (1) | Las Provincias (2) | Las Provincias (3)
Nine youths were arrested after a violent street fight in Patraix. Residents in Pilar have also reported a rise in street brawls and prostitution.
Las Provincias | Levante-EMV
Five decomposed bodies were found washed up on beaches in Sagunto, Cullera, and Castelló. Authorities suspect the victims may have been migrants lost at sea.
À Punt
Police arrested a man in Requena for attempting to poison his niece in an alleged inheritance dispute. The niece had installed a hidden camera and recorded him tampering with food jars.
Las Provincias
In a large police operation, over 30 people were arrested in Valencia for operating a phone scam targeting elderly parents with fake emergencies involving their children.
Las Provincias
Environment
Several beaches in Sueca, Altea, and Callosa d’en Sarrià were temporarily closed last week due to contamination from sewage leaks.
El País
Culture and History
Several people were injured during Pamplona’s annual San Fermín festival. Separately, in Picassent, a man was seriously gored during a bull-running event.
Las Provincias (1) | Las Provincias (2)
Authorities recovered more than 30 historical documents, including 16th-century orders from the Count of Cirat to defend against pirates and execute thieves.
El País
El Palmar fishermen held their centuries-old draw for Albufera fishing rights, this time welcoming new members from outside traditional fishing families, including a Valencian resident from Gambia. The guild also warned that the lagoon’s environmental health is in critical decline.
Las Provincias
