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Vol. 3 Issue 72 www.theolivepress.es January 24th - February 6th 2020
RECORD: Waves of up to 14m lashed Mallorca this week
Climate emergency declared as recordbreaking storm Gloria leaves 12 dead
By Joshua Parfitt
declaring a landmark state of ‘climate emergency’ for the entire country. The PSOE leader surveyed the devas-
tation in the port of Cala Rajada and agreed to declare a ‘catastrophe zone’ in Mallorca as of today (Friday). Sanchez also insisted ecological transition would now be at the ‘forefront’ of government action with an unprec-
We’ve all gota learn
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A gota fría (cold drop) is caused by pockets of arctic or polar air that move southeast across western Europe before meeting the warmer, humid Med climate, according to Alicante scientist Jorge Olcina. The cold blast becomes ‘isolated’ at high altitude, hence its spanish term DANA, or Isolated Depression at High 16/06/2017 15:36 Altitudes. When coming into contact
with warmer air, the rising humid vapours immediately condense and drop a massive quantity of water in one burst. In Orihuela in September over 400mm of water fell in less than 48 hours, nearly twice the town’s annual average precipitation, due to a freak gota fría. The term refers to this unique weather event that is only used in the western Mediterannean.
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edented ‘climate change law’ expected within 100 days, following in the steps of scores of countries across the world. The island was hit badly, with heavy rainfall and giant waves in the fourth ‘gota fria’ storm to hit Spain in just one year (see panel left). Sa Dragonera saw record 14-metre waves, twice the height of a double decker bus, crash down onto the roof terrace of a hotel, as shocked holidaymakers clung for their lives. Videos posted on the Olive Press website show the moment as they filmed it from a fourth floor. Gusts of up to 110 kilometres per hour were recorded in Capdepera, while emergency services responded to 150 separate incidents. Some supermarkets reportedly ran out of stock due to ferries not being able to dock. Meanwhile, a bridge running over the Tordera river has collapsed in Catalunya. Across Spain 200,000 people have been left without electricity, while 130,000 children did not attend
WASHED UP: Trio of boats school on Thursday. Gale force 9 winds wrought havoc with 115km/h winds recorded in Oliva and waves reaching a record-breaking 8.44m in Valencia. So far, 12 people have died around Spain, with a further four missing around the Balearic Islands and Catalunya. The first victim, age 44, died in Asturias on Sunday when a truck lost control in heavy snowfall and crashed into his car while he was putting on snow chains. The following day a 63-year-old died in Avila after he was struck by a roof tile. Meanwhile a 70-year-old man Continues on Page 5
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PHoto by Lin Edwards
A SERIES of giant 14-metre waves lashed the Balearics this week as Storm Gloria officially became the most destructive winter storm since 1982. The record-breaking walls of water have left 12 dead, while five are still missing, including British man Ben Garland, 25, who disappeared from Portinatx, Ibiza, on Wednesday. The latest fatality was confirmed after the discovery of a man’s body in the Anoia river in Jorba, Barcelona. It comes as Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (below) jetted into Mallorca after
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