Gales Batter Denia Coastline

SPECTATORS at a basketball match had to be evacuated when high winds ripped away panels from Denia’s municipal sports centre but luckily no one was injured. 

In another incident last weekend, the wall of a house collapsed but timely action by Denia’s fire brigade prevented further damage.

The gales also affected Alicante city, Elche, Santa Pola and Torrevieja with frequent reports of fallen masonry and uprooted trees. 

Earlier last week high winds blowing from the west prompted an orange alert from the regional government’s emergency services and warnings of 90 kilometre an hour gusts. 

Firemen were called to three woodland fires fanned by the gales in Lliber, Rafol de Almunia and on Montgo and a ban was issued on lighting all bonfires in the province, even at authorised sites.