THE BEAST OF EASTER STRIKES

Jávea hit hard with over 100 vehicles having to be dragged out of water

THE ‘Beast of Easter’ swept into the Costa Blanca over the holiday weekend with Jávea bearing the brunt of the damage resulting from the extreme weather.

At the height of the storm, thunder and lightning raged over the Marina Alta town bringing torrential rain and flooding in low lying areas – while torrents of water ran down hillsides making driving hazardous for motorists.

Jávea and neighbouring Dénia were both crowded for the holiday and both were hit. The Spanish weather agency Aemet not only correctly forecast a ‘washout’ but also upgraded its warnings – by Sunday, the area was on red alert.

Damage was estimated as running into millions of euros, coupled with the economic loss to businesses ready for the start to the holiday season. It is understood the state insurance Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros will handle claims.

HIGH seas and record rainfall brought widespread flooding to Jávea over the Easter holiday weekend with emergency services working at full stretch to successfully avoid a tragedy.

The mopping-up operation began on Monday afternoon – the first respite from torrential rain – thoughts also turned to the cost of the damage, estimated as running into millions of euros, with the government promising a helping hand after ministers visited the town.

As the floods receded from Avenida Libertad, which runs from the beach area, cranes and tow trucks took away around 100 cars trapped by the rising water – according to insurance experts, many will be written off.

Over 24 hours from Sunday, more than 310 litres per cubic metre of rain fell on the Marina Alta town, described as being at the epicentre of the spring storm, the worst figures since the floods of 1957. It was estimated some 500 litres per cubic metre fell over the Easter weekend.

And during the worst of the storm, more than 300 people were evacuated from their homes or from campsites; 89 people spending the night in a Red Cross emergency centre.

People were rescued from places cut off by rising water levels; some in inflatable dinghies, others balanced onboard paddle boards, as neighbours lent a hand.

The beach area of the Arenal and the surrounding low ground – the flood plain of the river Gorgos – was badly flooded. In some places the water reached the windows of abandoned cars.

Roads were cut by the flooding or by landslides and police also closed roads to prevent drivers from adding to the chaos by entering areas under water.

The port area was also badly hit – the run off of water from the Montgo mountain and high ground turned roads into raging torrents of water with drains unable to cope with the onslaught.

Spirit

Residents and visitors came together to offer help and the community spirit was epitomised by La Bambula restaurant and bar – offering a break and a free cuppa to members of the emergency services professional or volunteers.

Mayor Jose Chulvi paid tribute to the emergency services and Civil Protection, Volunteers of Balcon al Mar and the Red Cross who responded to “hundreds of incidents”.

“The town hall wishes to express appreciation for the operation of local agencies and other provincial, autonomous and state bodies in managing this emergency, a very complicated event coinciding with a holiday like Easter,” he said.

“I especially wish to thank the volunteers who, despite being a holiday, have once again shown their great commitment to others and made it possible to face a difficult emergency with greater effectiveness.”

He apologised for some people left waiting for help but said the special town hall emergency centre was forced to give priority “to the most serious cases or those that affect public safety in general.”

Following the rains, a huge clean-up operation was launched involving local police, the volunteer associations, council cleaning teams, firefighters from across the region, forest firefighters, and the security company Tragsa, which moved in heavy duty pumps.

As roads were reopened, fire engines and pumps were set to work clearing water from underground car parks, storage areas, cellars and under builds.

The lasting cost of the flooding will become clearer as the damage is assessed and access is restored to places left underwater for over three days.