ALICANTE NEWS

Spain launches a new crackdown on drink and drug driving this week, and the numbers behind it make sobering readingAlcohol was present in 28% of all traffic accidents in 2024, and deaths involving drunk drivers rose 9% in a single year The DGT has launched a new week-long campaign targeting alcohol and drug use behind the wheel, running from Monday until Sunday July.. 14/07/2026

First case of West Nile virus this year confirmed in AlicanteCosta Blanca health officials say most cases occur between July and September when mosquito activity peaks Mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus   Health officials in the Valencian Community have confirmed the first case of West Nile virus.. 14/07/2026

Yes, the Spanish Christmas Lottery is already on sale and yes, it really is only JulyWith 162 days to go until the December 22 draw, tickets are already flying and this year's adverts are already turning heads People always say Christmas comes earlier every year, and here in Spain they might actually have a point. It's only Monday.. 13/07/2026

Man arrested in Orihuela over links to Swedish criminal networks that use children as hired killersThe Policía Nacional acted on a European arrest warrant after an investigation into organised crime groups involved in arms trafficking and violent attacks A man has been arrested in Orihuela following a joint operation between the Policí.. 13/07/2026

Decomposing body discovered on patio of Luxury Torrevieja villaThe homeowner raised the alarm after finding a bloodied and partially decomposed body in La Veleta The Guardia Civil are investigating after a body showing signs of violence was found inside a property in the exclusive La Veleta residential area of.. 13/07/2026

Summer of 2026 in Spain set to be the most expensive on record for cooling your homeHouseholds across Spain are feeling the pinch as air conditioning use collides with record electricity prices Staying cool this summer is costing Spanish households more than ever before. Back to back heatwaves have pushed demand for air conditioning.. 13/07/2026

Intense heat returns with thunderstorms possible inland: Alicante weather forecast July 13-16Temperatures are on the rise again, with some areas reaching up to 40°C before the chance of thunderstorms develops from Wednesday The week kicks off with rising temperatures and more heat alerts across Alicante province. Temperatures are expected.. 13/07/2026

Spain's wildfires have already burned through more than 50,000 hectares this year, nearly 40% of the entire EU totalWith multiple blazes still active across Catalonia, Cádiz and Huelva, the scale of the crisis is growing by the day Spain is burning, and the numbers are stark. Wildfires have scorched 50,384 hectares across the country between January 1 and July.. 10/07/2026

New EU travel permit for Brits pushed back againThe €20 pre-travel authorisation for non-EU visitors is now unlikely to launch before 2027 For months, British travellers heading to Spain and other EU countries have been preparing for a series of new border controls. First came the Entry/Exit System.. 10/07/2026

Spanish wages fail to keep pace with inflation and rising cost of livingThe OECD says inflation has wiped out much of the benefit of recent pay rises, leaving many workers with less spending power than before the pandemic Spain has become one of Europe's fastest-growing economies, yet many workers are still finding..

Pilar de la Horadada extends free summer bus hours across the municipalityFully accessible buses connect Mil Palmeras with Pinar de Campoverde throughout the summer months Pilar de la Horadada's free bus service is running longer hours this summer, giving residents and visitors an easier way to get around the municipality.. 10/07/2026

Torrevieja has just been named a top family destinationThe city has received the Family Tourism Seal from the Spanish Federation of Large Families, recognising its beaches, nature and leisure offerings It has been a good week for Torrevieja. On Thursday, the city received the Family Tourism Seal from the.. 10/07/2026

Eight Kalashnikov rifles seized after high-speed police chase in AlicanteFour men with prior criminal records were arrested in Alicante after chase spilled into the Region of Murcia Police in Alicante ended up in a high-speed chase that stretched all the way into the Region of Murcia after officers spotted a car tearing.. 10/07/2026

Spain's sick leave bill has tripled in a decade and now costs an estimated €33 billion a yearThe number of episodes has risen 84% since 2017, mental health cases are the fastest growing category, and the debate about what is driving it has become deeply political Spain's sick leave problem has landed firmly in the political spotlight. Opposition.. 10/07/2026

Torrevieja's giant lighthouse city park set for August startBuilding work on Alto de la Casilla is now expected to start this summer, with the park opening by spring 2027 Torrevieja's plans for a huge new lighthouse park have taken a big step forward, with the town hall confirming the construction contract.. 09/07/2026

The best places in Spain to experience the 2026 total solar eclipseMillions will look skyward on August 12 as Spain experiences its first total solar eclipse in more than a century On August 12, 2026, Spain will become one of the most sought-after destinations on the planet for eclipse chasers.   For the.. 09/07/2026

Intense heat eases for a sunny summer weekend: Alicante weather forecast July 10-12After reaching up to 41C midweek, temperatures will begin to fall across Alicante Province, although it will still be sunny and warm over the weekend After another spell of intense heat and several days of heat alerts across Alicante province.. 09/07/2026

Torrevieja hospital expansion finally gets the green lightMore land for Torrevieja's overstretched hospital has been handed over after months of promises Torrevieja Hospital is finally set for the expansion locals have been calling for, well, for years, after the land needed for the project was formally.. 09/07/2026

German fugitive arrested at Alicante checkpointThe wanted man was subject to two arrest warrants when he was picked up in Novelda The Guardia Civil has arrested a 45-year-old man in Novelda, an inland town around 15km from Elche, after discovering he was wanted under two European Arrest Warrants.. 08/07/2026

Woman dies after being hit by boat propeller on the Costa BlancaThe victim was struck after from a donut float near La Caleta in Jávea The Guardia Civil is investigating the death of a 36-year-old woman who was struck by the propeller of a boat around 400 metres off the coast of Jávea, in the La.. 08/07/2026