The president of the Diputación de Alicante, Toni Pérez, has urged the Segura and Júcar river basin authorities, which fall under the Ministry of Ecological Transition, to clean the riverbeds in the province. This request aims to prevent flooding and reduce risks associated with extreme weather events.
Pérez visited the Advanced Command Post in Oliva to assess the damage caused by the recent DANA Adams weather event. He was joined by the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, the president of the Generalitat Valenciana, Juan Francisco Pérez Llorca, and mayors from affected municipalities, among other officials.
During the meeting, Pérez echoed concerns raised by local mayors regarding the lack of maintenance of the Girona River, which is managed by the Júcar River Basin Authority. The presence of weeds and branches, as highlighted by local councils and residents, contributed to the river overflowing in Els Poblets after heavy rainfall, resulting in significant flooding and damage to streets and homes.
“From the province of Alicante, we demand that the Spanish government immediately clean the rivers and riverbeds, as the neglect of the river basin authorities in recent years has led to flooding due to the accumulation of weeds and branches during intense rainfall,” stated Pérez. He emphasised the importance of prevention in light of increasingly frequent extreme weather events, which pose risks not only to material property but also to human lives.
Pérez also called on Sánchez's government to expedite the implementation of pending hydraulic infrastructures and flood prevention plans, such as the one for Vega Baja, where only 5% of the planned investment has been executed by the Segura River Basin Authority.
Additionally, he supported requests from several mayors in Valencia and Alicante provinces to release local government reserves for the prevention, response, and reconstruction efforts in areas affected by the DANA.
Finally, Pérez praised the efforts of the Provincial Fire Consortium, which has conducted over 200 interventions in the past two days, particularly in Jávea, Pego, Dénia, and Els Poblets, including around twenty helicopter rescues. He also acknowledged the work of the Diputación's Roads Department in addressing incidents on the provincial road network, such as landslides and fallen trees.
