A fire in the Torrellano Alto area of Elche has destroyed seven vehicles and damaged two others. The Alicante Provincial Fire Consortium received the alert at 2.26pm on Tuesday, after the blaze started in one vehicle in plot 3 and spread to nearby parked cars. The flames also reached a fence lined with cypress trees. Firefighters from Elche and the Santa Pola station attended the incident, with one sergeant, two corporals and nine firefighters involved in the operation. The crews […]

A homeless man has died after reportedly hiding inside a rubbish container while fleeing police in Cartagena. The incident happened at about 1am on Monday, 31 August, on Calle Carlos III. According to initial police information, the man had allegedly stolen a backpack on Avenida de América, in the Estación area, before running away. Officers lost sight of him, and investigators later concluded that he may have climbed into a container to hide. The container was collected by a side-loading […]

A 25-year-old man has been arrested in Santiago de la Ribera, in San Javier, after allegedly threatening his mother with several knives. The arrest took place on Saturday, 29 August, after police officers went to the family home. The man reportedly confronted the officers who attended the address, and was detained. The incident has been reported in Murcia. No further details about the alleged threats or the arrest have been released.

The Valencian Community has recorded its strongest July for international tourism, with 1,634,084 overseas visitors spending €2.475 billion. Visitor numbers increased by 9.5% compared with July last year, while total spending rose by 11.6%, according to figures from the National Statistics Institute’s Frontur and Egatur surveys. Average spending reached €1,515 per visitor, up 2% year on year. Daily spending also increased by 2%, to €153, while the average stay lasted 9.9 days. Regional tourism minister Marián Cano said the figures […]

Santa Pola’s traditional Moorish assault has opened the town’s Moors and Christians celebrations, with more than 1,000 spectators gathering on Levante beach. The event recreated attacks by Barbary pirates on the Mediterranean coast during the 16th century, with dancing, battle scenes, arquebus fire and cannon shots. The performance began at 10am, with Christian forces positioned behind a wooden palisade as Moorish troops approached from the sea. The action was narrated and placed in its historical context by journalist José Juan […]

Torrevieja is relying on more than 80 prefabricated classrooms to respond to rapid population growth and rising demand for school places. The town has added 10,000 residents in two years, while new schools have been opened before permanent buildings were available. The Generalitat’s contracts for the temporary facilities have an average cost of more than €1.87 million a year, or over €5,100 a day. That figure covers installation, rental and eventual dismantling, but excludes the cost of preparing land, providing […]

Orihuela City Council has started improving and repainting road signs around the municipality’s schools ahead of the new academic year, which begins on 9 September. The work is intended to improve visibility at school entrances and strengthen safety for pupils, families, drivers and pedestrians. The council says traffic and pedestrian numbers will rise significantly around schools when classes resume. Councillor for Citizen Security Mónica Pastor said the work is focused on areas that will soon see large numbers of children, […]

Torrevieja Council has put out to tender a €134,000 contract, including VAT, to install a new air-conditioning duct at the Palacio de los Deportes indoor pool. The work will also improve ventilation in the boiler room. The council has separately paid €14,000 for the project design through a minor contract. The urgent procurement follows the collapse of the previous metal duct on 14 May. It fell over the pool while the facility was open, affecting several lanes, although no users […]

A 61-year-old motorcyclist has died after a serious crash on the N-332 at Santa Pola, in Alicante province. The collision happened at about 2.15am on Monday, at kilometre point 85.7 of the national road. According to the Guardia Civil, the motorcyclist made an illegal overtaking manoeuvre and crossed into the opposite lane. He collided head-on with an oncoming car. The motorcyclist was then hit by a second car travelling behind the first vehicle. Three passengers in the cars suffered minor […]