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Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin Aug 16
TOP STORIES: "Freak summer storm leaves hail and damage across Spain" & "The 100ml liquid rule at airports is back!"
Happy puente, everyone! Yesterday, Thursday August 15, was a festivo for the Catholic Feast of the Assumption, which makes these four days a long bank holiday weekend.
Just so you know, we will not be sending out our Spanish News Today Editor’s Roundup Weekly Bulletin over the next two weeks as I, the Editor, am taking some holiday for the rest of August.
There will still be news stories going out on our website, of course, as we endeavour to keep up with all the goings on around Spain, but you won’t get another one of these Bulletin emails until Friday September 6.
Let’s begin!
Liquid old
From the beginning of next month, passengers flying through Spain and other EU airports will need to brace themselves for a return to the old 100ml liquid rule in hand luggage.
Just when it seemed like the days of dealing with liquid restrictions at airport security were behind us, the EU has decided to bring them back. Over the past few years, airports like Madrid and Barcelona started using advanced C3 scanners, which gave a 3D view of suitcases.
These high-tech machines were supposed to make travel easier by allowing passengers to carry larger liquids and keep electronics in their bags during security checks. Málaga and Alicante were even set to roll them out by 2025 or 2026.
Unfortunately, those plans are now on hold. The EU announced this week that the C3 scanners aren't quite up to the task of detecting dangerous items in luggage, which means we’re back to square one, at least for the time being.
According to the EU Aviation Security Regulation, the general rule across all EU airports is that liquids, aerosols and gels (LAGs) in containers larger than 100ml are a no-go unless they’re for special diets, baby products or medicines. And passengers must have official documentation with them or risk having their oversized products confiscated.
In other words, the convenience that C3 scanners promised is now out the window. The return of the 100ml limit is not just a hassle for travellers; it’s also a huge setback for airports that invested millions in these scanners, only to see them become practically obsolete overnight.
The European airport trade association, ACI Europe, has voiced concerns that this restriction will slow down security lines at airports. They warn that airports will face significant operational challenges, requiring extra staff and possibly even reconfiguring security checkpoints to handle the change.
Although this rule is supposed to be temporary, ACI Europe has pointed out that there is no clear plan or timeline for when it might be lifted. So, for now, travellers will need to pack light and plan for a bit more time at security.
Something fishy
Planning a beach day in Spain? Along with the beautiful turquoise waters and golden sands, there’s something else you should be mindful of – the weever fish. This small but mighty creature has already stung around 700 beachgoers this season, so it’s worth knowing what to look out for.The weever fish (Trachinus araneus) is a sneaky little predator that hangs out in the shallow waters of Spain’s northern beaches, especially around Galicia. Although it only grows to about 30 centimetres, this fish is a master of disguise, blending perfectly into the sandy seabed with just its venomous dorsal fin sticking out.
This is where things get tricky, and potentially very painful. Unsuspecting beach lovers can easily step on this well-hidden fish, causing it to feel threatened and strike back with a venomous sting. The weever’s spines can inject a painful toxin into your foot, and the sting is anything but mild.
Remarkably, this tiny fish is powerful enough to pierce through leather-soled boots. Ouch!
If you’re unlucky enough to get stung, you can expect a fair amount of pain, swelling and redness at the site. In some cases, the reaction can be much worse, leading to fever, nausea, difficulty breathing and even fainting. Not exactly the relaxing day at the beach you had in mind, right?
One hotspot for these stings is Sanxenxo, a popular beach destination in Galicia. This summer alone, around 700 people have been stung, and last summer saw a staggering 1,700 incidents.
With weever fish also found in both Atlantic and Mediterranean waters, it’s important to stay alert.
So why are these usually shy fish suddenly causing a stir? It’s a mix of warmer summer temperatures and lower tides, which draw the weever closer to shore in search of food - unfortunately, right where beachgoers are enjoying the water.
Luckily, most of Spain’s popular beaches have lifeguards on duty, and they’re well-equipped to handle weever stings.
To avoid a painful encounter, try shuffling your feet when you enter the water or walk along the shore. This will disturb the fish, and they’re more likely to swim away than sting.
Belter of a storm
How are you enjoying the Spanish summer so far? We’ve made a lot recently of the fact that it’s so hot, bringing you tips for dealing with the heat and advice for staying safe at the beach. But the weather here can turn on a dime, as the dramatic shift in weather this week demonstrated.On Wednesday, a cold front transformed into a DANA (Isolated Depression at High Levels), bringing with it severe storms, heavy rainfall and powerful winds. The stormy conditions affected several regions, mainly around the Mediterranean coast, and the Balearic Islands were probably the worst affected by disruptions, damage and safety concerns.
The Balearic Islands of Mallorca and Ibiza were among the hardest-hit areas. These tourist-heavy islands were jam-packed full of holidaymakers trying to enjoy the sunny weather right up until the very last minute, when the storm struck. It caught several tourists off guard in the likes of Magaluf and Santa Ponsa, with many beachgoers scrambling to find shelter as the weather rapidly deteriorated.
The images coming out of Formentera, particularly, have been frightening and awesome in equal measure, with the normally calm seas looking like something out of a disaster movie. A luxury sailboat crashed into the rocks, injuring nine people and forcing one man to have one of his fingers amputated.
Que la Dana haya destrozado decenas de barcos de pijos en Formentera y a mí me de gustico, ¿Es normal?pic.twitter.com/491BqTrM7n
— Marru Gatman 🇵🇸 (@marrullero) August 14, 2024
On the mainland, the Valencian Community experienced severe weather, with heavy rains and strong winds causing widespread disruption. In Ontinyent, around 300 people were evacuated from a supermarket when the roof collapsed under the weight of the downpour. The Costa Blanca region saw more than 40 litres of rain per square metre, leading to localised flooding and flight disruptions at Alicante-Elche Airport, where several flights were either diverted or cancelled.
Further south, in the Region of Murcia, the storm caused significant damage and disruption. The Emergency Coordination Centre 112 received over 100 calls related to the storm, with reports of fallen trees, mudslides and debris blocking roads.
In the Camposol urbanisation in Mazarrón, residents captured footage of a supercell tornado-like funnel cloud forming in the sky – a rare and alarming sight in this part of Spain.
🌪️ Confirmado: Tornado en el Sureste
— AMETSE (@MeteoSE) August 14, 2024
Nos llega el video corto del tornado que ha afectado a una zona próxima a la urbanización Camposol (Mazarrón) formado en una super célula.
🎥 Vía Mazarrón al minuto pic.twitter.com/HWrC6jVsML
The storm also caused delays on the Murcia-Alicante train line when a fallen tree obstructed the tracks, forcing passengers to transfer to another train.
Lightning strikes also caused several small fires in the countryside around Yecla, Jumilla, and Cehegín, which were quickly extinguished by firefighting teams, and hail was even reported in some areas. Thankfully, the pouring rain has actually served to dampen the earth and Murcia, which has been at ‘High’ or ‘Extreme’ risk for forest fires all summer long is now at ‘Low’ risk.
In Alicante province, two wildfires broke out in Castell de Castells and Benigembla, likely caused by lightning strikes during the height of the storm, but these fires were also quickly brought under control.
Despite the chaos, the storm also brought a welcome drop in temperatures, providing some relief from the scorching heat we’ve had up until now. It was like four seasons in one week. Who can tell what the weather will be like next week?
While the weather is hard to predict, this series of extreme weather events highlights the radical nature of our changing climate: even in regions typically associated with stable and sunny conditions, extremes of weather can suddenly appear and as the climate crisis becomes more severe due to human activity the importance of being prepared and having quick disaster response plans in place becomes ever more apparent.
Murcia
What a wonderful week. After so many warm and weary days, it was nice to have a bit of wet and windy weather on Wednesday and Thursday. Maybe not the way most would have chosen to spend their festivo on Thursday, all washed out, but much-needed nonetheless.
Still, the glut of rain didn’t stop the CHS – the water authority assigned to look after this part of the country – from once again issuing a ‘declaration of extraordinary drought’, just like they did about 3 months ago.
What this means is that they will limit the activities of farmers who water their crops with groundwater and they will probably open up the groundwells in Calasparra to provide more waters for irrigation. So far, the CHS has assured that public supplies of water fit for human consumption is safe, so you won’t have to ration your water intake any time soon.
But the CHS has still come under fire from both the Regional government and from environmental groups for its failure to plan ahead sufficiently to avoid such drought measures, and for so blithely taking the drastic step to extract water from the groundwells, which Ecologistas en Acción warn could lead to environmental damage along the Segura River.
Talking of environmental and health crises, the World Health Organisation this week declared an international health emergency due to the rapid spread of mpox – formerly known as monkeypox – through Africa, and it turns out that the disease was recently detected in the Region of Murcia.
The Spanish Ministry of Health has disclosed that a patient tested positive for this highly infectious disease last month. Despite prior warnings about the ease with which the virus could spread from Africa, where it has been rapidly increasing, the news of the infection was only made public this Thursday.Mpox cases have also been reported in eight other Spanish regions over the last month, including Madrid, Andalucía and Catalonia, among others. Since the beginning of the outbreak in 2022, Spain has recorded over 8,000 confirmed cases, making it clear that the nation is no stranger to this disease.
So it’s been going for a while now, but what is particularly alarming at this moment is the emergence of a new variant of the virus, which is said to be far more lethal than the previous strains. This variant is associated with a higher incidence of severe illness and mortality, raising serious concerns among health experts.
In a more positive health-related story, San Javier Town Council has opened a new 24-hour emergency health centre in La Manga del Mar Menor in order to provide quality healthcare services to all during the summer.
The new facility, equipped with an Advanced Nursing Life Support (SVAE) service, has already proven its value, responding to over 100 emergency calls since it opened. The establishment of this centre is particularly crucial during the summer months when the population in La Manga increases significantly due to the influx of tourists, and the initiative highlights the proactive approach being taken by local authorities to ensure that both residents and visitors have access to timely and efficient medical care.
Not to be outdone, Águilas Town Council has taken a significant step towards inclusivity, accessibility and enhancing its healthcare services by installing a specially designed bathroom for ostomy patients at the Playa de Poniente beach.
This facility, tailored to meet the needs of individuals with ostomy bags, allows users to empty or change their bags in comfortable and hygienic conditions thanks to the unqiue set-up of the sinks and toilet.
It’s an initiative that has been roundly applauded by the general public, and the local Councillor for Inclusion has indicated that this is only the beginning, as there are plans to introduce similar facilities on more urban beaches, ensuring that all beachgoers can enjoy their time by the sea with dignity and ease.
Meanwhile, on the beach in Los Alcázares, the Town Hall has launched an innovative campaign aimed at promoting safe sun practices among beachgoers. As part of the ‘Enjoy the Sun Responsibly’ campaign, free high-protection suncream is now available for anyone to just come and use at Playa Carrión.Dispensers of factor 50 sunscreen, which look a bit like soap dispensers, have been installed at first aid stations along the beach, making it easy for visitors to protect their skin from harmful UV rays.
Very kind of the Town Hall, though one wonders what’s to stop people coming along and filling up whole bottles of the stuff, more than they need, and leaving the rest without any suncream. Or, what’s perhaps worse, is that in order to be able to afford to give away so much suncream (which anyone who has bought a bottle recently will know is far from cheap), Los Alcázares has shelled out for the cheap stuff that barely protects from the sun anyway.
Still, I don’t want to sound too jaded or ungrateful. Best not to look a gift horse in the mouth.
See our EVENTS DIARY for events and activities coming up soon in the Region of Murcia:
Spain
English and Spanish social media users alike have their knickers well and truly in a twist this week after a British influencer uploaded a video of a cheeky and rather questionable stunt at everyone’s favourite supermarket, Mercadona.
Chloe Lopez, a singer by trade, has been making waves on social networks with her outrageous antics, but this time she might have taken things a bit too far in her quest for internet fame.
Lopez, who has more than 173,000 followers, has built her online presence by pulling off bizarre pranks, and her signature move is ditching her undies in public places. Yep, you read that right. From petrol stations to burger joints, she’s left her mark in some pretty unexpected spots. But her latest caper in Mercadona’s bread aisle has really ruffled some feathers.
In her latest video, Chloe is seen strolling through the supermarket in a short black skirt and top, casually pushing her trolley. Suddenly, she whips off her bright pink panties and leaves them, of all places, among the loaves of bread. Hygiene and good manners? Clearly not on the shopping list that day.
Influencer inglesa Chloe López, de visita por España, nos deja de regalo en una bandeja de pan del Mercadona sus bragas apestosas y usadas... 173.000 seguidores tiene. El mundo femenino cada día está más de frenopático: Instagram les ha fundido los cables. pic.twitter.com/iBmj2c3Sms
— Capitán Bitcoin (@CapitanBitcoin) August 13, 2024
The clip, as you might imagine, has sparked quite the uproar on social media. Commenters from both Spain and the UK are having a field day, questioning how far people will go for a few likes and shares.
“Is nothing sacred anymore?” one user asked, summing up the general sentiment.
“What a stupid woman! And even worse those who give her likes for this,” another X user chimed in.
Pop superstar Katy Perry is making waves again, and she’s come under the scrutiny of the Balearic Islands Department of Natural Environment after her latest music video shoot stirred up some controversy.
Katy’s new music video, Lifetimes, was shot in the stunning locations of Ibiza and Formentera, showcasing the singer in various picturesque settings – bopping on the beach, dancing through central Ibiza and partying it up in a famous nightclub.
However, it’s the natural backdrops in the video that have raised some eyebrows among local authorities.
The issue is that Katy and her crew filmed on the protected islet of S'Espalmador, part of the Parc Natural de Ses Salines in Formentera, without securing the necessary permits.
Authorities have clarified that while this isn’t a major environmental violation, it is considered an infraction. The park does allow filming, but only with proper authorisation, which Katy’s team didn’t obtain. Now, an investigation is underway to assess if any damage was done to this ecologically sensitive area.
On a much more sinister note, a British fugitive wanted on an international arrest warrant has been caught while taking a break in Spain. The man, who is allegedly the ringleader of an illegal arms trafficking operation, was arrested by the Guardia Civil at El Prat airport in Barcelona on August 2.
Currently living in China, the fugitive had arranged to meet his children in Spain for a holiday. But his plans were cut short when officers tracked him to Terminal 1 where he was waiting for his kids’ flight to arrive.
Once they confirmed his identity, the police moved in and arrested him. The fugitive was reportedly “very surprised” by the arrest and did not put up any resistance.
The British national is now in custody, awaiting extradition proceedings.
Alicante
Thanks to the sky-high temperatures and a distinct lack of rain (up until this week!), the Spanish countryside had become a veritable tinderbox, and wildfires had been springing up on an all-too regular basis. The latest scene of destruction was Benidorm, where a huge forest fire broke out on the afternoon of Saturday August 10.It caused widespread disruption as it led to the closure of the AP-7 motorway and CV-70 in both directions, and as a precaution, hundreds of tourists were evacuated from the Terra Natura zoo and water park, which was very close to the source of the wildfire.
The flames were thankfully brought under control after around four hours of intense work.
Alicante was experiencing one of its hottest days of the year when the fire ignited in the scrubland beside this busy main road. The first flames were spotted on the right-hand side of the road heading towards Valencia at kilometre 649. Unfortunately, the fire quickly jumped to the other side and spread through the brush.
A spokesperson from the fire department explained that the flames reached several rural homes and spread quickly due to the dense forest area. About 30 people were evacuated from their homes on Saturday evening.
The fire was finally extinguished completely at 9.50am on Sunday morning, according to the Alicante Provincial Fire Brigade Consortium.
After achieving an almost perfect sweep in the Blue Flag awards at the beginning of the summer, the beaches of the Orihuela Costa have again been honoured by the same prestigious group – this time, for their outstanding rescue and lifeguard services.
The Association for Environmental and Consumer Education (ADEAC) was especially impressed by the lifeguards working up and down the coast for the company ‘Ambumar’.
According to Ambumar’s coordinator Nacho Lorente, the beach rescue and lifeguard service in Orihuela includes a rapid response vehicle, two ambulances with advanced and basic life support, as well as rescue motorcycles and a 6-metre zodiac emergency response boat, “ensuring an effective response to any emergency, both aquatic and terrestrial, in the vicinity.”
But it’s not just about the state-of-the-art equipment; the heart of this service lies in the dedication and expertise of the Ambumar team, Mr Lorente said, as well as “the effort to raise awareness among the population about safety in these environments, where our lifeguards often face challenging situations.”
The lifeguard service will be operational until September 1 between the hours of 10am and 8pm.
With the Costa Blanca’s beaches coming so highly recommended, it’s hardly surprising that so many people are competing for a prime spot along the shorelines this summer. For most of us, the holidays are all about relaxing and having a well-deserved lie-in, but some sun worshippers in Torrevieja have other ideas.
Through their security cameras, the team at Proyecto Mastral has been keeping an eye on a very dedicated beachgoer. Last Sunday, they shared a snapshot from a webcam on the popular Playa del Cura, showing a lone umbrella firmly planted in the sand at a ridiculously early 5.36am. It was still pitch dark.
This eager beach lover has set a new record for the earliest parasol placement, securing their prime spot on the front row long before the sun came up.
But believe it or not, this isn’t the first early riser to pull off this feat. The day before, another ambitious sun-seeker (quite possibly the same person, it’s hard to tell from the footage) set their alarm for just 10 minutes later, claiming their spot at 5.46am.
It seems like our beach hero might be getting more competitive with each passing day.
As Proyecto Mastral made a joking remark relating to the recent Olympics: “It’s possible that a new record has been broken in Torrevieja.”
While this might seem like a light-hearted story, the battle for the best beach spots has led to plenty of confrontations along the Costa Blanca in recent years. In Benidorm, the so-called ‘umbrella wars’ erupted when early risers staked their claim on the sand at dawn, only to head back to bed for a few more hours of sleep.
And this summer, several local authorities are cracking down, fining both locals and tourists up to 3,000 euros for abandoning their belongings on the beach.
Andalucía
On to Andalucía now, which has witnessed an alarming surge in West Nile Virus (WNV) cases recently, highlighting the region’s vulnerability to mosquito-borne diseases. The virus, which can cause severe neuroinvasive diseases such as encephalitis or meningitis, recently claimed the life of an 87-year-old woman in Sevilla.This tragic death, coupled with ten new cases reported already in August, underscores the seriousness of the outbreak. The authorities have responded by deploying mosquito traps in high-risk areas and implementing preventive measures such as spraying affected zones to curb the spread of the virus.
Despite these efforts, the situation remains concerning, with experts urging residents to protect themselves against mosquito bites, as there is no specific treatment or vaccine available for WNV.
On the Costa del Sol, there was the unfortunately now-familiar shooting and crime after a Belgian man was shot dead at a high-end villa in Estepona following a party that reportedly turned violent.
It recalls a similar incident in 2021, where a DJ was fatally shot at a private party in Marbella, not to mention all the other shootings and gang violence that take place along this stretch of coastline.
The recent shooting has prompted a police investigation, with authorities working to piece together the events leading up to the incident and to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
In Almería, the potential environmental and infrastructural impact of a major new development in Mojácar is raising eyebrows and hackles. The Macenas Mediterranean Resort, a sprawling project that includes the construction of around 1,000 homes, a five-star hotel and an 18-hole golf course, is set to transform the coastal town by 2027.
While the developers have emphasised the resort’s sustainable design, including a circular water system powered by renewable energy, the sheer scale of the project is causing concern among locals. The proximity of the development to the Cabo de Gata Natural Park, combined with the water-intensive nature of golf courses, has led to worries about the environmental strain on the area.
Moreover, the influx of new residents and tourists could place additional pressure on local resources and infrastructure, necessitating careful monitoring as the project progresses.
And finally, coming back round full circle to Sevilla, local authorities are taking a hard stance against illegal tourist rentals in a bid to address the growing problem of unregulated holiday apartments.
The City Council plans to cut off the water supply to any properties operating without proper registration, a move that aims to curb the proliferation of unlicensed short-term rentals, which have been linked to overcrowding, rising rents and the erosion of local culture.
This initiative is part of a broader strategy to enforce compliance with urban planning regulations and protect the interests of local residents. By targeting unregistered tourist flats, Seville hopes to regain control over its housing market and promote a more sustainable approach to tourism that balances the needs of both visitors and the local community.
The overtourism battle wages on.
You may have missed…
- Mystery shopping in Murcia commercial centre with surprise Amazon sale.
Buy bundles of returned Amazon packages for a fixed price per kilo without knowing what's inside... this is the new limited-time shopping experience that has customers crazier than Black Friday at the Atalayas shopping centre this week. Tomorrow is the last day if you want to take part! - Murcia vineyards experiment with solar panels for tastier wine.
Three vineyards in Cartagena, Yecla and Jumilla are undertaking a ground-breaking experiment to investigate whether using solar panels to provide shade for their grapevines has any impact on the taste of their wine. - Record Mediterranean temperatures as sea water soars to 30 degrees.
Chances of a refreshing dip during those sweltering days at the beach are becoming more and more unlikely, at least if you’re on Spain’s Mediterranean coast – in just the past few days, water temperatures have soared to an unbelievable 28.67°C! - What is the life expectancy of a hot tub?
When investing in a hot tub, one of the key considerations is its life expectancy. Understanding how long a hot tub can last and what factors influence its longevity can help you make a wise purchase and maintain your investment for years to come. - Government accelerates high-speed rail between Almería and Murcia.
The Spanish Government has assured that its plans to connect Almería and Murcia via a high-speed railway will be completed within the next 3 years as more than half the work has been finished already.
And that’s it! Remember, there’s no bulletin going out for the next two weeks, so we’ll be back with your next edition on Friday September 6.
See you then! Have a great summer!
