ARCHIVED - Murcia and Spanish news round-up week ending 18th October 2019

Forecasters warn that another potential gota fría storm could form over the eastern coast of Spain

Tons of dead fish removed from the beaches of the Mar Menor and violence returns to Catalunya as separatist leaders are handed lengthy prison sentences

As an eventful week in the news comes to an end many people in the Region of Murcia will be watching the sky anxiously after Aemet updated their weather forecasts on Friday morning to warn that another “gota fría” storm may be on its way to the Costa Cálida early next week, and although the rain is not thought likely to be as heavy as during the September storm fingers will be crossed in many parts of the Region that Murcia escapes the worst of any rain, especially in Los Alcázares, where a month on from the flooding the clean-up and repairs are still on-going along the inland shore of the Mar Menor.

At present it seems that heavy rainfall is most likely along the coast of Catalunya and Valencia, with lesser quantities heading for Murica, but the advice is to follow the latest weather forecasts closely.

But for the rest of the week two major issues have been hogging the headlines, one in Murcia and the other in Catalunya, and in both cases the end of the week saw major demonstrations in the streets of the respective regional capitals.

In the city of Murcia thousands of people marched in the streets on Thursday evening to demand action to save the Mar Menor and flood prevention measures along the coast of the lagoon, their numbers no doubt swollen by an episode of anoxia (lack of oxygen) in the water of the lagoon which caused countless fish and crustaceans to be washed up onto the beaches of San Pedro del Pinatar either dead or dying last week. Some estimates place the number of animals to have died at over a million, but the sight of eels, crabs, sea bass, prawns and other species almost throwing themselves out of the water as they fought for oxygen were at once tragic, horrifying and very worrying.

As the public prosecution service began to investigate - claims that sewage discharge may have been responsible for the episode were later ruled out by the regional government following water sample analyses - Antonio Luengo, the minister for the Environment in the Murcia government, reported on Monday that ways were being sought to “inject” oxygen into the lagoon and warned that the situation was “critical”, describing the crisis as the worst in the history of the Mar Menor. However, his determination to attribute the phenomenon entirely to the amount of fresh water which ran into the Mar Menor as a result of the gota fría storm last month has been only partially accepted: others maintain that the storm was just the catalyst, the “straw which broke the camel’s back”, allowing contributing factors which have accumulated over decades to combine and radically alter the condition of the water in the lagoon.

At the same time, after announcing a visit to the Mar Menor, on Monday Teresa Ribera, the Minister for Ecological Transition, described the crisis in the Mar Menor as an example of the “collapse of an unsustainable model” of agriculture, seemingly indicating that she was planning to announce drastic measures. Having visited the Mar Menor on board the ANSE sailing vessel on Wednesday, though, Sra Ribera effectively told the Murcia government to enforce existing laws while offering the national government’s full support as they endeavour to do so, indicating that the authorities concerned (not just the regional government but also the CHS, Town Halls and others) have been turning a blind eye to the problem for too long.

Campo de Cartagena farmers meanwhile complained that they were being “persecuted” as the perceived guilty parties in allowing fertilizers and nitrates to run off into the lagoon, with organizations such as Proexport reiterating that when rules are made, they will urge all farmers to abide by them.

The layer of anoxic water (i.e. water lacking in oxygen) which caused the mass death of tens of thousands of fish and crustaceans on the beaches of the Mar Menor last weekend is reported to be still present in the lagoon, although according to the scientists monitoring the situation the probability of a second episode like that of a week ago has decreased significantly.

Fortunately, the latest data reveal that the oxygen level in the Mar Menor has improved during the week (and the beaches affected have been reopened to the public) although it is still very low in a couple of pockets at depths of greater than 5 metres, and the danger is far from over. Freshwater continues to run off into the lagoon, much of it bearing nitrates from the crop land of the Campo de Cartagena, and the level of salinity in the Mar Menor is still lower than usual: conditions which could lead to a repeat of the process of eutrophication which turned the water green in 2016.

One of the most frustrating aspects of developments in the Mar Menor is that although it tends to be largely forgotten, pioneering protection legislation was passed as long as 32 years ago but was later scrapped by subsequent regional governments. On this occasion it must be hoped that lessons can be learnt from history and that the Mar Menor as we know it is not being consigned to history along with the law drawn up by José Salvador Fuentes Zorita.

Another march and demonstration are to be held in Cartagena on 30^th October, beginning at 18.00 in the Plaza de España.

Violent clashes with police and massive support for separatist rallies in Catalunya

In Catalunya, meanwhile, pro-independence demonstrations became progressively more violent during the week after Monday morning, when the long-awaited Supreme Court verdicts were published in the trial of 12 leaders of the Catalan separatist movement for their involvement in the tumultuous events which led to a unilateral declaration of independence from Spain in the regional parliament just under 2 years ago. 9 of the 12 defendants were found guilty of sedition and received prison sentences of between 9 and 13 years, although after being sent “behind bars” they may be in in a state of “semi-freedom” almost from day one, having already been held in custody for only just under two years.

In anticipation of reactions in Catalunya the Spanish government had sent 3,000 officers of the law to support the Mossos d'Esquadra (the regional police force of Catalunya), and they have certainly been kept busy since. By Monday evening calls to civil disobedience by CDR (republican defence committee) groups throughout Catalunya as well as regional president Quim Torra had been heeded and countless protesters set about causing disruption on public transport infrastructures. Over 100 flights were cancelled at Barcelona-El Prat as the demonstrators completely overran the terminal building and since then barricades, fires in the street, police charges and violent clashes (some of them between separatists and police and others between assorted thugs and hooligans) have become commonplace in all major cities in the region.

On Tuesday evening 72 police officers were injured and at least 30 arrests were made as the protesters began to accuse the police of using unnecessary violence – one man lost an eye when he was hit by a projectile variously described as a rubber bullet or a “foam ball” – and at least 157 barricades were erected and set fire to by the protesters, and on Wednesday the scale of the violence escalated still further. At one point fireworks were launched at a police helicopter as 30 more were arrested and another 80 injured as protesters jubilantly burnt cars, trees, traffic lights and street furniture and hurled acid and Molotov cocktails at the national and regional police.

So serious were the incidents that even regional president Quim Torra finally found himself obliged to condemn them, although not before he joined one of the protest marches organized by grass roots pro-independence groups on Wednesday afternoon. However, he attributed the chaos on the streets to “groups of infiltrators” who, he said, are attempting to damage the image of the separatist movement, before reiterating his commitment to putting the issue of independence from Spain to the vote again during his term as president.

Thursday was relatively calm, before on Friday the separatists called a general strike throughout Catalunya and a million demonstrators were expected to converge on the streets of Barcelona. By the early hours of the morning barricades had been erected on motorways, dozens of flights had been cancelled at the airport of Barcelona-El Prat and the French border had been closed at some points as five columns of marchers who set out on Wednesday from different points in the region began to arrive in the regional capital prior to the main demonstration at 17.00.

Other items in the news this week

18,000 passengers fewer at Corvera airport during September than at San Javier last year: 2019 passenger numbers are down by almost 120,000 after 9 months after the drop in flight numbers in September was exacerbated by temporary closure of the airport due to gota fría flooding.

Spanish businesses continue to embrace online transactions: online sales and purchases were up last year by 8.5 per cent and 15.9 per cent respectively.

30 more Algerian migrants picked up off the coast of Cartagena: two boats were intercepted close to Cabo de Palos and Calblanque.

Loggerhead sea turtle released after being rescued near Cabo Tiñoso: the turtle was found drifting with a raffia sack tangled around its neck on 1st October.

Lemon, olive oil and cheese exporters in Murcia worry as Trump trade tariffs come into force: the aim of increasing lemon exports to the USA this year looks unrealistic in the light of the new tariffs and producers fret over the potential consequences of the tariffs.

Army parachutist tangles with lamp post at the National Day parade in Madrid: video footage of the accidental star of the show who earned a greeting from King Felipe VI!

Grape harvest 60 per cent complete with top quality reported in Jumilla: excellent 2019 vintage wines expected in the north of the Region of Murcia.

The remains of General Franco will be exhumed by 22^nd October: after a long legal battle the remains of the dictator are to be removed from the monumental site of Valle de los Caídos and transported by helicopter to the cemetery of Mingorrubio, where they will be laid to rest alongside those of his wife, Carmen Polo.

120 receive meningitis vaccinations in Cartagena after young girl from La Palma dies: the 16-year-old fell ill last Wednesday and died in hospital two days later.

Murcia-Cartagena rail services resume after flood damage a month ago: repairs and reconstruction have taken a month and cost 11.5 million euros.

Tickets selling fast for FC-Cartagena vs FC Barcelona: the fund-raising friendly kicks off at 19.00 on 13th November in Cartagena.

Portmán Golf under investigation over heavy metal contamination in the Campo de Cartagena: runoff water carries arsenic, lead and cadmium and other residues from old mining deposits past Llano del Beal and into the Mar Menor.

250 volunteers collect 1.5 tons of waste from the seabed and beaches of Mazarrón: events were held on Saturday in Cañada de Gallego and Bolnuevo.

Extensive flood damage reported at the Moorish Medina Siyasa archaeological site in Cieza: the adobe walls of 800-year-old Moorish homes are particularly susceptible to the effects of torrential rain.

Cartagena man held in jail after dismembering the dead body of his partner: the arrested denies murder but admits storing the body parts in a freezer for five months before distributing them in rubbish containers in the districts of Barrio Peral and Los Barreros.

No-deal Brexit could cost the Spanish tourism sector 1,400 million euros in 14 months: Brexit is one of various dark clouds on the horizon of the Spanish tourism sector, others including the collapse of package tour operator Thomas Cook, the slowdown in economic growth throughout Europe, increased competition from Middle Eastern and, most recently, the return of tension and uncertainty to Catalunya.

New Brexit deal means the same as the old Brexit deal for expat UK nationals: the novelties of the Boris Johnson deal mainly concern the Irish border and he has maintained Theresa May’s deal concerning citizens’ rights. Whether the deal passes through Parliament of course, remains to be seen.

Work begins on new outer ring road to the north-west of Murcia: the 21-kilometre motorway will ease traffic on the massively congested Ronda Oeste ring road.

Cartagena UPCT student develops robot to keep elderly people company: the aim is to reduce loneliness and combat the onset of neuro-degenerative illnesses.

Three Town Halls in central Murcia request help in combating mosquito plague: swarms of the insects are inconveniencing residents of Lorquí, Ceutí and Alguazas after they laid eggs in stagnant floodwater last month.

Águilas Town Hall initiates project to create pet cemetery: permission has been sought from the relevant regional government department.

Marble floor restoration delays opening of Roman Forum museum in Cartagena: in the meantime visitor numbers up are by 33 per cent at the Roman Theatre Museum, the most popular tourist attraction in Cartagena.

Clampdown on pooping pooches in Jumilla: dogs don’t wee perfume, the Town Hall reminds owners!

Murcia and Spanish property news

The main statistical report of interest concerning the Spanish property market this week came from the leading valuation firm Tinsa, who continue to report slight upward movements in the market value of housing across the country in relation to the month of September despite various data showing a slow-down or even a downturn recently.

The year-on–year increase of 4.2 per cent last month was the eighth consecutive rise of under 5 per cent and means that the Tinsa index is now 16.7 per cent higher than when the market bottomed out in February 2015 but still 33 per cent lower than at the height of the boom in late 2007. Particularly noticeable in the September figures is the sharp 9 per cent rise in the market value of properties in the Canaries and the Balearics, while elsewhere the increases are far more modest, for example just 2.4 per cent in “other municipalities” and 3.3 per cent in on the Mediterranean coast.

The latest bulletin also contains the monthly “market snapshot”, in which Tinsa highlight reasons to expect upward or downward movements in the value of homes in Spain, and on this occasion the latest data suggest stability at the best in the near future in the context of the political uncertainty in Spain, the tension in Catalunya, the generalized economic slowdown in Europe and other factors. For example, the latest monthly sales data (for August) show a sharp 20.8 per cent year-on-year decrease in comparison with last year, the number of properties for which building licences have been issued has fallen in the last three month and the Euribor interest rate on which most mortgage repayments in Spain are calculated, despite still being at -0.339%, has risen from the new record low of the previous month.

National averages tend to distort the pictures in different areas of Spain, and there are regions where the outlook is rosier than others, but in overall terms it appears that the demand for housing across the country may have reached a natural peak, and that in consequence there is less upward pressure on market value.

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See full background information for the Murcia Gota Fria 2019.