Wednesday morning began unusually in Torrevieja. Thousands of mobile phones suddenly emitted a loud emergency alarm at the same time. It was a test of the ES-Alert system  during the largest earthquake and tsunami drill ever organised in the city. Local authorities had warned residents about the exercise more than a week in advance through official channels, social media and local news outlets. However, reading about a drill online is very different from hearing the alarm on

On Wednesday morning thousands of residents in Torrevieja were startled when their mobile phones suddenly emitted a loud alarm. The message warned about a possible earthquake and tsunami risk. Fortunately, it was not a real disaster but a large civil protection drill carried out in the city. Local authorities had warned residents more than a week in advance through official websites, social networks and local media. Nevertheless, the alert surprised many people. For this repo

The institutional meeting between the mayors places railway integration back on the strategic agenda. More than protocol The meeting between Torrevieja and Elche signals coordinated institutional intent. Torrevieja exceeds 100,000 registered residents — far more in summer — yet lacks a railway station. This is not merely about transport.It is about connecting to Spain’s national network. An unusual exception Nearly all mainland Spanish cities with over 100,000 inhabitants ha

Long before tourism defined Torrevieja, salt did. It was the economic foundation that shaped the city’s development. When lagoons became capital After the 1829 earthquake, reconstruction was closely linked to salt production from the Torrevieja and La Mata lagoons. Export activity stimulated port and urban growth. Production and trade Throughout the 20th century, output reached hundreds of thousands of tonnes annually. In the early 2000s, production exceeded 700,000 tonnes pe

Subtitle:  Mandatory NRUA registration and Decreto-Ley 9/2024 are reshaping the short-term rental market. We analyse the figures, the local impact and the options for property owners. The Comunidad Valenciana is undergoing a structural contraction of its tourist housing (VUT) market. Digital inspections, stricter regulation and enforcement have significantly reduced visible supply on rental platforms. The national figure that changed the landscape Spain’s Ministry of Housing

A judicial investigation is ongoing in the Vega Baja region following the death of an elderly man after waiting for an ambulance and being admitted to Hospital Universitario Vega Baja de Orihuela. The family alleges possible delays in emergency medical care and has requested a review of the procedures applied. Concerns have also been raised regarding the completeness of surveillance footage provided. No final court conclusions have been issued. Matters under review The court

On Wednesday, March 4 , 2026, Torrevieja will conduct the largest earthquake and tsunami emergency drill in its history. The “Torrevieja 2026” exercise will be one of the most significant civil protection operations in Alicante province. The drill will begin at 09:00, with emergency services gathering from 08:00. More than 350 personnel will take part. Participants The operation will involve: – Local Police– Guardia Civil– Civil Protection– Emergency Medical Services– Red Cro

Between 23 and 27 February, public gatherings against gender-based violence were held in several municipalities of the Vega Baja del Segura. The initiative was promoted by the association “Vivas nos queremos Vega Baja”. The events took place in Torrevieja, Orihuela, Catral, San Miguel de Salinas, Almoradí, Rojales and Daya Vieja. The gatherings were held in public spaces and consisted of peaceful assemblies, reading of statements and moments of silence in memory of the victim

A fake ITV online booking scam in Vega Baja has affected several drivers after a fraudulent website was discovered imitating official vehicle inspection booking portals. The fake platform charged higher-than-official fees and assigned appointment dates that did not exist in the real system of authorised Inspection Stations. According to available information, users completed reservations and made payments believing they were using an official channel. However, upon arriving a

At Hospital Universitario de Torrevieja, measures are being discussed to reduce waiting times in the Ophthalmology department. According to patients and local publications, ophthalmology remains one of the most overloaded specialties. The issue is not unique to Torrevieja. According to official data from the Conselleria de Sanitat of the Valencian Community, Ophthalmology is among the specialties with the longest waiting lists. In 2024, more than 58,000 patients across the re

Spanish police have arrested four employees of real estate agencies in Alicante on suspicion of fraud targeting foreign buyers. Investigators believe deposits were collected for properties that were either not legally owned by the sellers or were never on the market. Victims transferred substantial sums before any notarial signing. The investigation remains ongoing. Authorities urged potential victims to file official complaints. Market context More than 700,000 property tran

In Guardamar del Segura (Alicante province, Vega Baja), the Guardia Civil dismantled a suspected drug distribution point located near a betting shop. A 40-year-old man with a criminal record was arrested on suspicion of distributing cocaine and MDMA. During the search, officers seized significant quantities of narcotics along with equipment used for preparation and packaging. The suspect was brought before judicial authorities and remains under precautionary measures pending

In Almoradí (Alicante province, Vega Baja), police have arrested three men aged 19 to 29 suspected of involvement in several crimes, including two violent robberies, three break-ins at public establishments and two thefts from vehicles. The investigation began in late 2025 following victim complaints and analysis of CCTV footage. Arrests were carried out on February 7 and 8, 2026 during a coordinated police operation. In one incident, the victim suffered a fracture after bein

In Torrevieja, representatives of the Ukrainian community held a peaceful rally marking another anniversary of the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Participants gathered in the city center to express their position and to remind the public of the ongoing military conflict. During the event, slogans in support of Ukraine and calls for an end to the war were heard. Among the banners were phrases such as “Ukraine wants peace” and critical statements addressed to

Scientists at the University of California, Santa Barbara have developed a new way to store solar energy. They created a liquid that absorbs sunlight and keeps it as heat. Later, that heat can be released when needed. The technology is called MOST — Molecular Solar Thermal. The process is simple. When sunlight hits the molecule, it changes shape and stores energy. When heat is required, it returns to its original form and releases the stored energy. This happens after mild he

ORIHUELA — €480,000 tax evasion sentence A court in Orihuela has issued a ruling in a €480,000 tax evasion case. The proceedings were handled as an economic crime. The court ordered restitution of the unpaid amounts.The case highlights strengthened fiscal oversight in the region. Financial transparency remains essential for investors.Authorities continue monitoring tax compliance. TORREVIEJA — +12% property sales, average price €2,409/m² In January 2026, 214 property transact

TORREVIEJA — attempted theft of €487 in a supermarket On Avenida de las Cortes Valencianas in Torrevieja, a 34-year-old man was detained for allegedly attempting to steal goods worth €487. Store security intercepted him before he left the premises and officers from the National Police responded. Legal proceedings have been initiated for a property-related offence. ALMORADÍ — driver recorded at 1.42 mg/l on the CV-935 During a traffic control on the CV-935 road, police stopped

The Torrevieja Local Police reports a traffic disruption on Ramón Gallud Street due to storm drain works. A sign reading "Road closed"  has been installed at the junction of Ramón Gallud and Orihuela streets. Vehicles weighing more than 3500 kg are prohibited from entering. The works continue from the junction with María Paródi Street to the junction with Rambla Juan Mateo.. Alternative route signs have been installed on Paseos, Puerto and Salida Ciudad (Azorín and Paseo Vist

The City Council of Torrevieja (Alicante province) has approved the implementation of a drug prevention and addiction awareness program in local schools and secondary institutions. The decision was adopted by the Local Government Board on February 20, 2026. The initiative includes contracting a specialized service to deliver preventive sessions in primary schools and secondary institutes. The program aims to prevent substance use and strengthen protective behavioral factors a

The Guardia Civil has arrested a man and a woman in Torrevieja on suspicion of stealing a gold chain from an elderly person. The incident took place around 1:00 p.m. in the Curva del Palangre area. According to investigators, the woman approached the victim under the pretext of a friendly gesture and, during a brief embrace, removed the gold chain from the victim’s neck. This technique, known as the “hug method,” is commonly used against elderly individuals. A local resident

The retail chain Lidl officially opened a new supermarket on 20 February 2026 in Torrevieja , marking its third store in the municipality. The new location, situated on Avenida Desiderio Rodríguez s/n, represents an investment of nearly €5 million  and has created 17 new jobs . The store features more than 1,150 m² of retail space , approximately 70 parking spaces , and electric vehicle charging points. Lidl in Spain: scale and numbers Lidl currently operates more than 700 s

One woman injured; Provincial Fire Brigade intervened A traffic accident on Wednesday, 19 February 2026, on the N-332 near the Benidorm exit ended with one of the vehicles engulfed in flames. According to emergency services, a woman was injured as a result of the crash. Following the collision between two cars, one of them caught fire almost immediately. Firefighters from the Alicante Provincial Fire Consortium responded quickly and managed to extinguish the blaze and secure

Who will really be working above Torrevieja’s hospital In Torrevieja, 20 artificial nests have been installed on the façade of the University Hospital, next to the lagoon. Officially, this is part of the city’s Biodiversity Promotion Plan. In practice, the city has invited a small but highly efficient aerial team to help. The species is Delichon urbicum , the common house martin — those swift silhouettes crossing the summer sky. Now they have new housing in Torrevieja. A hous

Torrevieja Exhibition “De La Mata and Other Landscapes” Dates: 18–28 February 2026 Hours: 08:30–14:00 Venue: Virgen del Carmen Cultural Centre Exhibition “De pura cepa” Dates: 18–28 February 2026 Hours: 17:00–20:00 Venue: Vista Alegre Hall Municipal Photography Programme Dates: 18–28 February 2026 Schedule: According to venue programme Location: Municipal cultural spaces Orihuela Exhibition “Bells. The Voice of God” Dates: 18–28 February 2026 Hours: 10:00–14:00 & 16:00–21:00