article_detail

 

 

Happy Halloween! (If you’re into that sort of thing… and if you’re not, well, it seems there’s no way of avoiding it anymore in today’s world.)

 

The biggest news story of this week in Spain actually started a full year ago – it was the one-year anniversary of that awful DANA storm that killed over 200 people in Valencia and destroyed countless lives.

 

We’ve got a retrospective of that for you in this week’s Editor’s Roundup Weekly Bulletin, but we start with something truly spooky:

 

 

 

Now that’s a terrifying piece of news if ever I saw one! After slashing thousands of flights all across Spain, Ryanair has announced that in order to board the flights it is still operating, passengers will only be permitted to use digital boarding passes from next month.

 

This means that from Wednesday November 12, the budget airline will no longer give out paper boarding passes, so only those with access to smartphones will be allowed to fly… more or less.

 

The airline says the move is part of its ongoing digital transformation, which aims to make travel simpler and more efficient for its more than 206 million customers. While Ryanair CMO, Dara Brady, said nearly 80% of its 200 million passengers already use digital boarding passes instead of downloading and printing paper tickets, many passengers, particularly the older generations, are understandably nervous about the transition.

 

However, Ryanair is adamant that removing the need to print boarding passes should make travel faster and more efficient, as well as being kinder to the environment and cheaper overall.

 

“Ryanair is Europe’s No.1 airline for choice, low fares and customer service,” Dara Brady said. “This move to 100% paperless boarding passes from November 2025 will allow us to deliver an enhanced travel experience for customers, streamlined through the myRyanair app during our less busy winter schedule”.

 

He added that this will be particularly useful to passengers during disruptions as it will facilitate real-time updates from Ryanair’s Ops Centre directly to passengers’ phones, and will also provide them with alternative flight options, and offer transfers or hotel accommodation options when necessary.

 

But what about those who don’t have a phone? Or what if you (shock, horror!) run out of battery while at the airport? Will these people be denied boarding?

 

Not exactly. Providing you have already checked in online, you can still get a physical ticket from the Ryanair counter at the airport.

 

Still, once the airline goes (mostly) digital in two weeks, passengers will no longer have to pay check-in fees at the airport and the move will drastically reduce the carbon footprint, too. Ryanair estimates that they’ll save more than 300 tonnes of paper waste each year. Not bad!

 

 

 

The weather is taking a bit of a turn for the worse lately, which is only to be expected at this time of the year, I suppose, but it is nowhere near as bad as it was this time last year, when the Valencian Community and surrounding areas were struck by a catastrophic DANA – an isolated high-altitude depression storm – that unleashed what became known as the deadliest floods in modern Spanish history.

 

That was on October 29, 2024. In a matter of just a few hours and days, streets became rivers, homes were swept away and entire neighbourhoods disappeared under water. The flooding claimed 229 lives in Valencia and eight more in other parts of Spain, while, incredibly, two people are still officially listed as missing. In total, it is estimated that more than a million people were affected, with the total damage exceeding €10 billion.

 

A year later, recovery remains painfully slow. While large companies have mostly resumed operations, many small businesses never reopened. Around 10% of independent traders have closed for good, unable to recover from the losses. For residents in towns like Paiporta and Catarroja, which saw the highest death tolls, visible and emotional scars remain. “Every time it rains, people panic,” said Aldaia’s mayor, Guillermo Luján. “We are terrified.”

 

The trauma runs deep. More than 80,000 people are believed to suffer from post-traumatic stress linked to the disaster.

 

And so, this week, as you can imagine, the whole country was preoccupied with memorialising the disaster. On the date of the anniversary of the flood itself, there was a grand and solemn ‘state funeral’ or remembrance service for the victims at Valencia’s premier venue, the City of Arts and Sciences. The royal family and a host of politicians were in attendance, as were representatives from some of the victims’ families.

 

Andrea Ferrari Canut, whose mother died in the floods, said, “We still feel the emptiness those days left behind. The DANA storm changed the history of our towns forever. We walk forward with scars on our souls, but with resolve.”

 

Another speaker, Naiara Chuliá Beitia, who lost her husband while he was driving home from work, shared how she still dreams of saving him. “In my dreams, I saved you so many times,” she said, “but every morning I woke up and another nightmare began.”

 

The final speaker, Virginia Ortiz Riquelme, whose cousin Juan Alejandro died in Letur, delivered the most searing message: “This catastrophe was not caused by nature; it was caused by those who neglected their duty, knowing their inaction could cost lives.” Her words, “The power has always been ours, and I know that together we will achieve justice,” drew the most applause.

 

This echoed the sentiment in wider Spain, beyond that hallowed cloister of officials and bigwigs. At the same time as all that was taking place, out on the streets, there were vigils that turned into protest demonstrations clamouring for justice.

 

You see, both the Valencian Community’s regional government and, to a lesser extent, the central government in Madrid have been blamed for being slow to alert people of the scale of the impending disaster when it happened, and also for failing to provide adequate aid and rescue services after the fact.

 

Coming in for particular scorn is Mr. Carlos Mazón, the President of the Valencian Community, who is accused by critics of gross negligence on a personal level, as well as being responsible for his administration’s failings.

 

There is a judicial investigation ongoing, focusing on these claims that official alerts were late, confusing and failed to urge people to move to higher ground. So far, two officials – former regional Interior Minister Salomé Pradas and her deputy Emilio Argüeso – face charges of reckless homicide and injury. But many people in Spain are disconcerted that Mazón himself is not on the chopping block, and that, indeed, he continues to hold office.

 

So, while the official ceremony unfolded indoors, thousands took to the streets across Spain to demand accountability. In Valencia, mourners turned a planned vigil into a protest march, chanting “Mazón resign,” “They are not dead, they were murdered,” and “Neither forget nor forgive.” In Barcelona, nearly 200 demonstrators gathered outside the Catalan People’s Party headquarters, carrying banners reading “Mazón, criminal” and “Justice for the 229.” Some formed human towers – a Catalan symbol of unity – while others hurled paint at the PP building, expressing anger at what they called “criminal negligence.”

 

For many, last year’s storm is no longer seen simply as a natural disaster but as a moral and political failure. It has become a symbol of mistrust in institutions, of bureaucracy standing in the way of safety and of how unprepared Spain still is for the kind of extreme weather that climate change is making more common.

 

And yet, amid the grief and anger, there are glimmers of hope in innovation and resilience. Across Spain, communities are not only rebuilding but also rethinking how to prepare for the next inevitable storm.

 

One practical development gaining traction and which ayuntamientos and community managers of urbanisations nationwide are looking into is the StormBag, a lightweight, sandless sandbag that could revolutionise flood defence. Originally designed in the US and now available in Spain, these bags weigh less than half a kilo when dry and can expand within minutes when soaked in water, forming a solid barrier as effective as a traditional sandbag.

 

Cregan Boyd, who is supplier for StormBag Ireland in the EU, says the invention is environmentally friendly, easy to use and reusable up to five times. “You just add water and that’s it,” he explains. “They can stop both saltwater and freshwater, and when you’re done, they dry out and shrink again.”

 

For homeowners in flood-prone areas, especially in regions like Murcia and Valencia where flash floods can strike suddenly, StormBags offer a simple and affordable line of defence. Sold for around €8.50 each, they can be stored flat in a garage or shed and deployed in minutes.

 

Boyd says he’s already approached councils in several Spanish regions to add them to their emergency stockpiles. “With our climate changing, and more intense storms becoming the norm, it’s vital that both authorities and residents are better prepared,” he said. “This could be a game changer for so many people.”

 

One can only hope that we can learn from our past mistakes.

 

 

Of course, anyone familiar with Spain and its ongoing issues will know that flooding is not the only water-related problem the country has. This week, too, there has been a renewed effort by Murcia, along with the Valencian Community and Andalucía, to stop a planned reduction in the amount of water transferred from central to southern Spain.

 

In what officials are calling a last-ditch attempt, the three regional governments have joined forces with the Syndicate of Irrigators of the Tajo-Segura Transfer (Scrats) to demand that Spain’s Environment Minister, Sara Aagesen, halt the next phase of the Tajo River Plan.

 

In short, at the centre of the dispute is the ecological flow of the River Tajo, which the national government wants to increase from seven to eight cubic metres per second starting in January. The measure aims to protect the Tajo’s ecosystem, which has suffered from overuse and climate pressures, but it comes at a cost for the drier southeast. Less water will be available to transfer south to regions like Murcia, Alicante and Almería, whose farmland and communities depend on the Tajo-Segura pipeline for irrigation and drinking water.

 

A lack of water is also responsible for a lack of wildlife in the Region. Just off La Manga’s coast, Isla Grosa, once a busy rest stop for migratory birds, has seen its numbers fall dramatically. Conservationists from the Association of Naturalists of the Southeast (ANSE) have recorded roughly half the number of birds stopping there compared with a decade ago.

 

The tiny volcanic island, just 2.5 kilometres from shore, serves as a crucial pit stop for birds flying thousands of kilometres between Europe and Africa. But the combination of human expansion, pesticides and worsening droughts is making those journeys ever more perilous. Pesticides, in particular, kill off insects that young birds rely on for food and weaken eggshells, making breeding more difficult.

 

The team at ANSE, who monitor and ring birds each migration season, say this year’s autumn migration has been slow, with noticeably fewer arrivals.

 

Environmental responsibility also took centre stage this week in a more practical way, with fuel giant Repsol rolling out a scheme across 97 service stations in the Region of Murcia to recycle used cooking oil. Residents can now drop off bottles of old oil at participating Repsol stations, where it will be sent to the company’s Cartagena industrial complex and transformed into renewable fuel.

 

It’s an easy swap for households but one with big potential. Less than 5% of Spain’s 180,000 tons of used cooking oil is currently collected, meaning most of it ends up poured down drains or in bins. Repsol hopes to change that by rewarding participants through its Waylet app, giving 30 cents of credit per litre of oil delivered, which can be spent on petrol, charging electric cars or in-store purchases.

 

The initiative not only reduces waste but also helps cut emissions. One litre of used cooking oil produces almost a litre of renewable fuel that performs just like diesel but can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 90%.

 

Repsol’s Cartagena facility is already the first plant in the Iberian Peninsula to produce 100% renewable fuel, with another site planned in Puertollano in 2026. In Murcia alone, the company expects to collect more than 20,000 litres of used oil every year, feeding into Spain’s growing circular economy.

 

While Repsol’s project looks to the future, Murcia city has been turning its gaze firmly to the past, announcing protection for 67 historic buildings. The move marks the largest expansion in the municipal heritage catalogue in years and reflects a renewed effort to preserve the city’s rich architectural character.

 

The list includes some of Murcia’s most recognisable landmarks, from the La Unión y el Fénix building with its iconic phoenix sculpture to the Telefónica Building, Hotel Hispano and Café de Alba. It also covers grand civic structures such as the Government Delegation, the Superior Court of Justice, and several ministerial buildings.

 

Mayor José Ballesta called heritage restoration “one of the fundamental pillars of our city project”, highlighting recent efforts such as the revival of the Artillery Barracks and restoration work on the medieval walls and the Palace of Ibn Mardanís. The updated catalogue includes both Grade 2 and Grade 3 protections, meaning some buildings will be fully preserved while others will have specific architectural features safeguarded, such as façades, roofs and staircases.

 

And the list is still open, allowing for future additions proposed by residents and local associations. For now, work licences on listed buildings are suspended for a year while the Municipal Heritage Council reviews each case.

 

Predictably, there is loads going on for this Halloween/All Saints’ Day weekend in Murcia, from a fun, alien-inspired series of activities at Espacio Mediterráneo shopping centre to a guided tour of a cemetery in Mazarrón (if you’re brave enough!). Of course, you can see more things going on by using our EVENTS DIARY:

 

Spain

Alicante

For other events and activities happening in the area, check out the What’s On page of Alicante Today or join the Costa Blanca What’s On and Where to Go Facebook group

Andalucía

You may have missed…

1. Supermarkets and shops opening in Spain this Saturday November 1.
   All Saints’ Day is a bank holiday throughout Spain on November 1, so many stores will remain closed, but some are staying open…
2. Are moths munching your wardrobe? Here’s how to keep your clothes safe this autumn.
   If summer’s giant moth invasion across Spain surprised you, don’t let autumn’s smaller but just as hungry offenders ruin your favourite jumper!
3. Spain backs EU decision to ban petrol and diesel cars by 2035.
   Spain and France have this week thrown their support behind the EU’s controversial 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel cars, urging European leaders not to back down despite growing pressure from major car manufacturing nations.
4. Largest loggerhead turtle ever found in Murcia released back into the sea.
   An impressive 70-kilo turtle, estimated to be between 40 and 50 years old, was released this Thursday in Cala Calnegre, Lorca.
5. Ten weird and wonderful Halloween traditions in Murcia that you never knew about.
   And finally… this!