News
Torrox rescue
A local police patrol in Torrox rescued a 73-year-old woman after breaking into her 7th floor apartment when fire broke out last month . She was found in bed suffering from smoke inhalation . After leaving her with a neighbour , the officers extinguished the outbreak , believed to have started in an air conditioner .
Railing collapses
A 68-year-old British man was evacuated by helicopter after falling four metres when a railing he was leaning on gave way . The incident which happened in La Herradura on June 15 also injured a woman who was struck as he hit the ground . Both were taken to hospital in Málaga for treatment to factures and other serious injuries .
Road upgrades
The provincial government has earmarked over € 805,000 to upgrade seven country roads in the Axarquía . The work to improve the surface and eliminate potholes will be carried out in several municipalities including Rincón de la Victoria , Comares , Benamargosa and Moclinejo . In some cases , horizontal signage will be repainted along with new sound strips and lane studs .
Drugs drone
National Police have used a drone to identify suspicious buildings in Torre del Mar where drugs were thought to be growing . When officers raided the shacks , more than 1,000 marijuana plants were found and seized . Four people who were detained are also suspected of an illegal connection the public electricity supply .
Irrigation threat
Water company Axaragua has called for further cuts in the amount of water available for irrigation . Consumption in the Axarquía has increased 50 % since the start of the tourism season and is expected to double during August . The reservoir at La Viñuela is presently less than 16 % full which Axaragua says is “ not compatible ” with a consumption of 1,500 litres per hectare of land .
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Countryside fires
Benahavis north-west of Marbella was evacuated early last month after fire broke out in the surrounding countryside . Over 3,000 people , including holiday makers , were ordered to leave as strong winds of up to 40 kph fanned the flames which at one point were advancing at 30 metres every minute .
Evacuations also took place further north at Pujerra as a precaution after Sierra Bermeja , which was devasted by fire last year , again was set alight .
Almost 1,000 fire-fighters were involved and at least three were injured with one suffering burns to 25 per cent of his body . A Level 2 emergency was declared and the army was brought in to assist as more than 2,000 hectares of forest was razed .
The blaze is believed to have started on an estate , La Resinera , which was bought by the Libyan National Bank in 1995 . However , Madrid froze all assets of Colonel Gaddafi after the fall of Tripoli in 2011 .
Spain experienced the warmest May since the beginning of the century while last month ’ s heatwave , with inland temperatures in the 40s , was the earliest in four decades . With serious countryside fires reported from across the country , Spain continues to warn of high or extreme risks to wildlife . The Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez praised firefighters who , he said , “ risk their lives on the frontline of fires .”
Doggy bags
Restaurants and bars which serve meals will soon be obliged to ask customers of they would like to take home uneaten food in a doggy-bag . The move is part of initiative to curb food waste which also includes supermarkets selling misshapen fruit and vegetables cheaply , and donating unsold produce to food banks . The Ministry of Agriculture says 75 % of Spanish households waste food , especially fruit and vegetables .
Playa Madrid
A new artificial beach complex is due to open near Madrid next year . The massive development will include a huge lagoon , a sailing school , aquatic slides , beach bars and more on a site of 105,000 square metres . The Alovera resort is estimated to be costing € 15.6 million to build .
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