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The Costa Blanca is bracing for another day of dangerous weather after heavy downpours and strong winds caused chaos in several towns on Monday September 8. The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) has issued an orange alert for the Vega Baja region on Tuesday September 9, warning of torrential rain and severe thunderstorms.

 

On Monday afternoon, storms swept through Redován, Cox, Callosa de Segura and Orihuela. Streets were flooded, trees were knocked down and some roads had to be closed.

 

In Orihuela’s Montepinar area, gusts of wind reached up to 100 km/h. MeteOrihuela shared shocking videos showing a massive palm tree being split in half by the force of the wind.

 

With the risk of a repeat today, Tuesday September 9, several municipalities have taken the decision to suspend classes. In Cox, Mayor Antonio Bernabéu announced on social media that all school activities will be cancelled on Tuesday. Orihuela has also suspended school and sports activities as well as any outdoor events.

 

Torrevieja, Callosa de Segura, Redován, Benejúzar and Almoradí have followed suit.

 

In Callosa de Segura, the suspension applies to every level of education, from preschool through to secondary, as well as the Conservatory and the Official Language School. Outdoor municipal sports facilities, parks and gardens are also closed to keep residents safe from falling branches, landslides and flooding.

 

In Redován, the first day of the school year has been pushed back to Wednesday. Schools including Colegio Sagrados Corazones and IES Redován will remain closed today, along with all municipal sports activities.

 

The same decision has been taken in Benejúzar, which has ordered the closure of all outdoor facilities, and in Almoradí, where schools and outdoor sports will also remain closed.

 

Other towns introducing the same measures include Orihuela Costa, Bigastro, Dolores, San Miguel de Salinas and Rojales.

 

Miguel Hernández University has also suspended teaching at all its campuses. That means there will be no classes today at either the Salesas campus in Orihuela or the Desamparados campus.

 

The Emergency Coordination Centre has urged people to take extra care:

 

“Avoid unnecessary travel and remember to drive carefully during a storm, never cross a ravine or any area with standing water, and follow #Consells112,” it said in a statement.

 

 

Images: MeteOrihuela