A severe storm has affected Alicante province, bringing wind gusts of up to 100 km/h, intense lightning, heavy showers and hail. The storms moved irregularly across the province, with the worst conditions reported inland, including in Villena, El Pinós and Alcoi. The Provincial Fire Consortium recorded 37 incidents between 17:52 and 20:00 on Monday. Crews responded to fallen trees, damaged façades, awnings, roofs and cables in homes and public areas. Some electrical installations also caught fire, but authorities said only […]

The ONCE Weekend Coupon has awarded €60,000 in Torrevieja. Three coupons, each worth €20,000, were among the winners in the draw held on Saturday 8 August 2026. ONCE seller María Nubia García Montoya sold the winning coupons from her outlet on Calle Ramón Gallud. She has worked for ONCE since September 2024 and is attached to the organisation’s agency in Orihuela. The ONCE Weekend Jackpot is drawn every Saturday and Sunday. Its main prize is €300,000 for the five-number combination […]

National Police have arrested five people in Elche accused of defrauding gold buying businesses and pawn shops with counterfeit jewellery designed to look like solid gold. The suspects, four men and one woman aged between 40 and 48, are being investigated for alleged ongoing fraud and membership of a criminal group. The investigation began after several business owners reported that items sold or pawned as gold later proved to be low-value metals coated with a thick layer of gold. Police […]

A 51-year-old Spanish care worker has been arrested after a Guardia Civil investigation into the alleged financial exploitation of an elderly German couple led to the discovery of an industrial-scale synthetic drugs laboratory in Dolores. Officers began the inquiry, known as Operation Dignidad Eterna, after a social worker in Elche raised concerns on 29 June about the welfare of an 85-year-old woman who was in a state of total dependency. Investigators believe the suspect isolated the couple, aged 85 and […]

The Guardia Civil has confirmed a large-scale national security operation ahead of the total solar eclipse taking place on 12 August, an event expected to draw significant numbers of visitors across Spain. More than 24,000 officers will be deployed across the country, operating by land, sea and air. The force will reinforce public safety, manage mobility and protect the environment at key observation sites. Over 660 viewing points within Guardia Civil areas – representing 84% of all identified locations nationwide […]

Orihuela City Council has confirmed that more children’s parks are set to be renovated as part of its ongoing programme to improve play areas across the municipality. The latest project has been completed in Orihuela Costa, where crews replaced around 260 square metres of rubber safety flooring in the park on Calle Lago Bañolas in the Garbanzuelo urbanisation. Existing play equipment and street furniture were also repaired and refurbished. The work was carried out by the Department of Infrastructure in […]

Rojales Town Hall has launched a tender for major refurbishment works at the Municipal Market, with a base budget of 486,955 euros. The project, titled “Roof Replacement and Interior Renovation of the Municipal Market”, aims to resolve long-standing structural issues and modernise the building. Constructed in the early 1990s and opened in 1993, the market has experienced persistent water leaks from its metal roof. The main intervention will see a new pitched metal roof installed to improve waterproofing and thermal […]

A 43-year-old man has been arrested in Benidorm on suspicion of committing fifteen thefts in hotel dining rooms, according to the National Police. Officers say the suspect entered hotel breakfast areas and stole handbags, mobile phones and wallets while guests briefly left their tables to collect food. Victims reported leaving bags hanging on the backs of chairs, only to discover their belongings had disappeared moments later. Police believe the man selected his targets from outside the dining room before entering […]

The Vega Baja University Hospital in Orihuela has cut its Priority 1 surgical waiting list by 75% over the past three years. These patients, who face life-threatening conditions and must be treated within 30 days, were waiting an average of 47 days in June 2023. By June 2026, that figure had fallen to just 12 days. For Priority 2 patients, who should be treated within a recommended maximum of 90 days, average waits have dropped from 67 days three years […]