Marbella announces almost €28.5 million of damages

AS MARBELLA council announced that the damage caused by the weekend’s devastating floods is estimated to be worth €28.49 million following their initial assessment, city mayor Jose Bernal has been out and about inspecting the worst-affected areas.

On Friday, December 9, he accompanied the public works councillor, Blanca Fernandez, on a visit to the seafront boulevard in the Casablanca neighbourhood, where 120 council workers have already deposited 300 tonnes of sand in order to repair the flood damage.

As he surveyed the scene, he explained that the council has “wasted absolutely no time to begin repairs, and we have acted first in the places where the most serious incidents occurred, such as the seafront boulevard.

“In this part of Casablanca the footpath was completely gone, but now it is in a much better condition so that residents and visitors can enjoy it, and so that local shops can operate as normal.”

Bernal also suggested that the national government should “also make an effort to improve our beaches,” and confirmed that he has scheduled a meeting with officials from the national coasts delegation next week.

“We are now faced with quantified losses totalling more than €20 million, four times more than the annual municipal investment budget, so we are making an extra special effort,” concluded the official.

Other repairs currently underway include the collapsed wall at the bullring.

The breakdown of the damage estimate suggests that €21,885 must be spent on public roads, infrastructure and municipal facilities, with a further €3.77 required to return local beaches, including those in San Pedro, to their previous state.

An additional €1.96 is need to repair damage to schools, while ‘cultural’ damages such as the partial collapse of the theatre entrance, are likely to cost €830,000.

The financial report has been sent to the sub delegation of the Spanish government in Malaga, in order to formally request aid from the Council of Ministers.