Scene of last years disaster

How quickly time passes - It has been a whole year since the tragic death of two British tourists, killed in the flash floods of La Cala. On 21st October 2011, heavy torrential rain fell in just 25 minutes with tragic consequences.

Similar damage caused again only weeks ago !

The trial is still open and ongoing a year later. The Ministry of Environment fined Finestrat Town Hall  83,163 euros for "paving the dry river bed" without authorisation and repeatedly ignoring warnings of the risk of keeping the market there. The Mayor is accused of a possible crime of irresponsibility, resulting in death. Following the tragedy, the market was relocated higher up and off the river bed. 150 market traders lost everything and are still waiting for compensation a year on!

Only a few weeks ago heavy rain once again caused flooding in the same area. Local residents and business owners are demanding a solution without having to wait for another disaster to occur. Until a solution is found, this will continue every time heavy rain falls.

All the sand has been washed away

The first aid station and police quarters located on the edge of the walkway on La Cala were once again balancing dangerously after yet more rain. It is something that will keep happening again and again until the situation is addressed. Police tape is in place around the dangerous structures - the only one to benefit are the builders I think!

The main issue is that the dry river bed has been paved over. This is the primary outlet for rain water all the way up from the top of Finestrat... way past Carrefour and the Marina shopping centre. The water literally cascades down in a torrent thanks to the paving - it is an issue not only here but in all over built areas and heavily populated areas.

Diggers on the beach leveling out washed away sand

In the UK, the flood agency is constantly warning of the dangers of too many householders paving and tarmacing their driveways - water has no natural way to be absorbed into the ground. This is what has happened in La Cala. What is a natural river bed was paved and therefore leaving no natural means of drainage, except straight out into the sea, via a very small outlet.

The sand is constantly washed away and last week diggers were back on the beach trying to level it all back out again. La Cala is a very popular beach, set in a cove and especially favoured by families as it is very quiet.

Lets hope that a solution is found quickly before more lives and livelihoods are ruined...