Small outlet which runs from the dry river bed to the beach

The Guardia Civil have opened an inquiry into the death of the British couple from Bootle in Lancashire on Friday following flash floods in the area.
They will be looking into the causes as to whether it was a natural phenomenon or mis-management by the Finestrat Council. The layout of the ravine and input of water channels from adjoining streets will be investigated. The Local Goverment in Alicante have also got involved in the case. There were serious floods in the same area back in 2007 and again 2009.

In 2008 the Council was ordered to pay a fine of 83,000€ for asphalting  the base of the dry river bed., and a project was designed to install pipework  for flood waters at the same time.  None of these works were started.

Play area on beach taped off

The Council stated that it had contacted the Goverment in Alicante for help with the financing of the project as it was very costly, but have still not received a response.

There is a dispute as to the amount of rain water that fell.  The Council says that in the area of the ravine 65 to 92 liters /m2 of rain water fell in an hour. Another agency claimed thay only 7.2 litres which makes it hard to explain the flash flood.  The Council explained that the lower reading was taken  by the closest rain guage data monitor which was in Finestrat. Also the duration of the flash flood  is being contradicted. One department says it lasted 25 minutes while others say it was only 8 minutes.

Yesterday the dry river bed was full of investigators from the Finestrat Council and Alicante Goverment, looking for clues. Amongst them personal loss adjusters working for some of the 150 stall holders.

Sand all washed away under the first aid point

I drove down to the affected area yesterday afternoon and apart from damage at the beach front you would never know that such a tragedy had occurred. The sand had all been washed away from the under the Cruz Rojo first aid hut and was balancing  dangerously and the children's play area had much damage - both had been taped off .

The La Cala beach is very popular with British holiday makers as it is situated in a small cove and quieter than the Levante and Poniente beaches further along the coastline. La Cala beach actually falls under the authority of 3 separate Town Halls; Villa Joyosa, Finestrat and Benidorm but the vast part is Finestrat's responsibility. Finestrat Town centre is located way past the Marina Shopping Centre towards the mountains but the town has a strip that runs all the way down to the beach - hence the La Cala beach is known as "La Cala Finestrat" although most people think it is part of Benidorm.