Last weekend, the City of Torrevieja coordinated the reception, transport, and delivery of 85 tons of aid for those affected by the devastating DANA in Valencia. Mayor Eduardo Dolón, along with Councillor of NGOs Trudy Páez and Mayor of Security Federico Alarcón, explained the efforts at a press conference on Monday.
Contributions and Support
The aid includes water, milk, non-perishable foods, hygienic and cleaning products, and 7,000 new clothes, classified by size and season, as well as blankets and towels. Dolón expressed gratitude for the solidarity and swift response of Torrevieja’s residents and local companies. Specific needs, such as lactose-free milk, were met within hours. The Vega Baja construction supply company, Tabisam, played a key role in transporting the aid.
Aid Delivered:
33,100 liters of water
9,980 liters of milk
4,860 kg of hygiene products (gels, toilet wipes, diapers)
19,730 kg of non-perishable food (pasta, biscuits, tuna, packaged legumes, oil, rice, juices, baby food)
380 kg of cleaning products
7,025 kg of clothes, towels, and blankets
Beach Cleaning and Rescue Efforts
Seven operators from the municipal waste collection company Acciona, with two tractors and two centaur trucks, assisted in debris and vehicle removal in Algemesí and Aldaia. Two vaba trucks with a 20,000-liter capacity also supported the efforts. On Monday, these teams aided the rescue operations at the Bonaire shopping centre’s underground parking lot in Aldaia, alongside numerous firefighters and the army’s UME. Civil Protection volunteers also contributed significantly.
Collection Points and Observations
The City Council set up three collection points: the Municipal Leisure Center, the multipurpose centre of La Mata, and the Sports City, serving as logistics centres for aid coordination. The Torrevieja Corporation and many residents joined a five-minute silence on Monday to honour the victims of the Valencia floods, following a call from the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces.
Police Deployment Controversy
Dolón addressed claims that the City Council denied the deployment of 40 local police officers who volunteered to help affected areas. He clarified that an express request from the Generalitat is required for such support. Despite this, local police from other municipalities in the region have been assisting without bureaucratic hurdles, approved only by their mayors and coordinated with the National Police or Civil Guard.
As Torrevieja awaits the Generalitat’s directives, volunteer police officers from the region have been organizing relays, with many of them travelling to Valencia over the weekend.
