ISSUE 649 • 24th - 30th August 2018 By Jose Artur AUTHORITIES in Chirivel began working to repair damage last weekend caused by flash storms and floods which struck the town and the wider Almanzora area and trapped some British families. The town’s council deployed heavy machinery on rural roads that had been flooded in an effort to clear them of debris and damage. Chirivel authorities have also requested that the area be designated an official Catastrophe Area which would give them access to additional resources. The floods left five British families trapped in their homes after water cut off access roads to the properties. They were later rescued. Chirivel Council said on social media this week that they were still repairing the damage to roads, streets and public areas such as parks. “We have been taking stock of the damage over the past few days. Thank you for your co-operation and thanks especially to the town’s work-
A FIVE-YEAR-OLD girl was taken to hospital after falling from a balcony in Almeria City. The incident took place last Wednesday at 4.45pm, when the emergency number 112 received the first warning from a
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Cleanup efforts
DAMAGE CONTROL: Roads in Chirivel were awash with water. ers who are doing everything so we can return to normal as soon as possible,” the statement said. Emma Sola, the mayor of Chirivel,
private person who told them an injured minor had fallen from a balcony in the neighbourhood of El Zapillo. Some of the facts are still being investigated by the Local Police of Almeria.
Motor show ALMERIA City’s council hosted a motor vehicle exhibition last Saturday, where they received the Seat 600 and Mini Cooper presenting a piece on motor history from 10am to 2pm. Visitors were able to contemplate the vehicles and take photographs with them, throughout the second day of the show. The display showcased the most popular cars from the 60’s and 70’s in Spain and saw many locals and tourists attend the event.
said the extent of the damage was still being assessed but initial findings suggested the cost of repairing roads could run as high as €180,000.
Balcony fall According to one of the witnesses the girl had fallen from the second floor when yielding the railing balcony where the
Sola added the storms had dislodged sediment from the town’s ravine, which had burst its banks and caused roads in the town and in Albox to be submerged in water. The dislodging meant the ravine flowed faster making it harder to stem the water. Estimates have stated that around a quarter of the town’s almond crop was destroyed during the storms. There are also concerns unseasonal hail fall could have had a further impact. Almond trees in the Albox area were also damaged due to hail fall from earlier storms, according to Spain’s Met Office. Farmhouses were also affected, AEMET added. Francisco Torrecilla, the mayor of Albox, said: “There were storms over the fields of Oria and many of the districts and towns on the edge of the Chrivel ravine which meets with that of Albox, with both of them flowing into the River Almanzora. “It is good to have water in the ravines because it helps to boost supply, but damage has been caused.”
witness was. The coordinating centre reported the case to emergency services medical personnel and the Local Police. It has been confirmed by the health ser vice that the five-
year-old girl had been transfered to the hospital in Torrecardenas to receive health care. Police are still investigating the circumstances of what had happened.