Local Headlines - March 2023

Hospital expands

Another project to expand Vélez-Málaga hospital has been approved by the regional government.  Two new buildings are to be constructed to house activities not directly connected to health care, including the chapel, assembly hall and cafeterias.  The space freed-up by the €400,000 project will then be used to extend and improve care services.

Bank blast

Two explosions rocked the centre of Málaga shortly after midnight on February 17 as a gang blasted their way into an ATM machine at a bank on Avenida de Andalucía.  The thieves apparently used explosives or acetylene gas and are thought to have fled with at least €40,000, leaving considerable damage behind them.  Police were quickly on the scene and chased the gang towards Torremolinos at speeds exceeding 200 kph during which time a patrol car was rammed by the thieves.

Drugs discovered

Two bales of drugs were found on Nerja’s Burriana beach early last month.  Guardia Civil officers who removed them later estimated that they contained 50 kilos of hashish.  The packages are believed to have thrown into the sea by illegal gangs, perhaps when surprised by police activity, and were then drawn to the shore in recent stormy weather.

Parking lifts

Nerja councillors have awarded a €97,500 contract to provide new lifts in the town’s underground car park near the Balcón de Europa.  Muncipal services councillor Gema García said the three new elevators would be more modern and efficient than those presently in use.  Installation of the new equipment will take six months.

Regional News - March 2023

Shooting tradegy

Five people have been arrested in the Castellón town of Vall d'Uixó after a heavily pregnant 28-year-old woman was shot while trying to stop a fight on February 13.  Her son was born by Caesarean section but she died hours later.  The detained include her boyfriend and four others suspected of trying to cover up the incident.

Quake controversy

Spanish rescue teams returning from Turkey last month claimed that damaged buildings were being demolished risking the lives of anyone left alive under the rubble.  Speaking to TVE, one said they had decided to come home after the government authorised the use of heavy equipment in quake-hit regions.  “We won’t be part of this,” he added.

No masks

Face masks ceased to be mandatory on public transport in Andalucía on February 8.  However, they must still be worn in hospitals, health centres, dental clinics and other specialised care centres.  Masks also remain obligatory for the public when entering a pharmacy and when visiting residents in a nursing home, although such residents are now exempt.

Licence update

Early last month, the British Embassy in Madrid updated information for British residents in Spain who failed to swap their UK driving licence for a Spanish version within the allotted time following Brexit.  The Embassy said that no date had so far been set for Ministers to discuss the issue, but that the UK had been assured that it would be “very soon.”  It underlined that the process was not in the hands of the Embassy.

Minimum wage

Spain’s minimum wage has risen by 8% to €1,080 per month.  Agreement with the unions was reached at the end of January but the CEOE representing the country’s businesses refused to sign up to the deal.  The rise of €80 a month applies to 2.3 million workers and is backdated to January 1.