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'Toxic Cloud' denounced Buy now

THE PRESENCE of a 'toxic cloud' in the Strait of Gibraltar has been denounced by Verdemar Ecologists in Action on Sunday, July 30.

According to the environmental organisation, ships passing through the corridor are responsible for these emissions. In a statement on social media, they claimed that levels are 'skyrocketing' in the Bay of Algeciras in Cadiz province. A similar problem exists in the North African enclave of Ceuta they added.

Despite the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda (Mitma), deploying drones to monitor the control of air polluting emissions from ships, the situation is still occurring they insisted.

This system of monitoring is carried out in collaboration with the European Maritime

Safety Agency (EMSA) and the General Directorate of the Merchant Navy.

Verdemar pointed out that 'apparently' the EMSA drone, called 'RPAS (Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems)', has re­ turned to the Strait of Gibraltar for the second time to detect the level of sulphur oxide emissions, as reported by a national news outlet.

Ships can be seen emitting fumes most days claimed Verdemar

'It is easy to see the plumes of smoke coming from ships crossing the Strait of Gibraltar without control', they stated. These come from ships that 'pollute the air and, due to the action of the wind, this contamination spreads tens of kilometres inland, increasing local air quality problems', they added.

As a result of these emissions, the environmental organisation stressed that particles of pollutants such as soot, sulphur and nitrogen oxides 'harm human health, the environment, and the climate'.

The fumes could cause serious health problems such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, including strokes and cancer, which can lead to premature death'.

17 Autonomous communities in Spain.

RENFE users can now purchase free tickets for Cercanías, Rodalies and Media Distancia, with tickets valid for journeys made between September 1 and December 31, 2023.

The purchase of these tickets is possible through the Cercanías Renfe application and in the case of Media Distancia tickets, this can be done through the renfe.com website and via the usual sales channels, (stations, vending machines, etc).

To do this, clients must be previously registered. For Avant rail services, the 50 per cent discount on season tickets is maintained.

This same discount is applied to other high ­ speed routes that have been declared a Public Service Obligation (OSP), which operate under the same conditions as an Avant Pass.

In order to purchase the subscription, although it is free, it is necessary to pay a deposit of €10 in the case of Cercanías and Rodalies, and €20 for each conventional Media Distancia service.

Payment by card will allow the automatic return of the deposit, once it is verified that the condition of having made 16 trips during these four months has been met.

For children aged under 14 without ID, a recurring subscription for Media Distancia services are now being offered.

This can also be purchased at renfe.com or through the Renfe app on a mobile device. A parent or guardian may acquire, through their NIF, NIE or passport, a maximum of four child passes for one origin and destination, during the period of validity.

Customers who have used the free commuter pass for Cercanías, Rodalies or Media Distancia in the first four ­ month period of 2023 will have their deposit returned, provided they have met the relevant conditions.

STATISTICS for Spain this year have shown that cases of drowning have skyrocketed among 60­year­olds.

According to the Ministry of Health, drowning in the water is more common from the age of 60 onwards. More than 35 per cent of those who die from drowning are people over 65, according to a news source on Thursday, July 27.

From January to June this year, 169 people died in Spain from drowning. The age group with the most victims was 65 to 74

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