Costa Blanca
Elche air raid shelter opens to the public on Friday April 11th

The inaugural shelter constructed during the Spanish Civil War has been accessible to the public, as announced by the Department of Culture and Tourism. Last December, this entirely renovated facility was inaugurated at the Jardín de la Concordia on Paseo de Germanías.
Irene Ruiz, the councillor for the area, has announced that as from yesterday, Monday, April 7th, appointments can be made. However, visits will not commence until Friday, April 11, as they must be requested at least 72 hours in advance via the City Council website (https://www.elche.es/refugio-no1-del-paseo-de-germanias/). The activity must be authorised as extracurricular by the corresponding School Council in the case of school groups.
Visits must be scheduled on the specified days and times, Monday through Friday, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The minimum group size is 15 individuals, and the maximum group size is 21, and admission is free. The tour is suitable for all ages, lasts approximately 45 minutes, and is 117 metres in length.
Shelter No. 1 on Paseo de Germanías is only one of thirteen shelters constructed in the city during the Spanish Civil War. The construction was designed to safeguard the civilian population from prospective air attacks; however, this function was never realised, as the city of Elche was never bombed.
Its architecture, which consisted of lengthy, parallel corridors, was originally designed with three entrances; however, only two were ever completed. These entrances have been restored and are now accessible to the public for excursions.
The air-raid shelter located on Paseo de Germanías is the most architecturally intricate of all the urban shelters. It is comprised of two long parallel corridors that are connected by four transverse passageways and can be accessed by descending 18 metres. The compacted earth floor and masonry walls that were its original features were replaced with concrete in the 1950s.
Information panels, photographs, signage, and lighting are present throughout the tour of the facility, which is now a museum.
Irene Ruiz reminded visitors that the sanctuary is not accessible to individuals with reduced mobility due to the absence of an elevator. Instead, there are two 87-step staircases. Additionally, there are no facilities, prams must be folded down during the visit, pets are prohibited, and the shelter’s or tour guide’s instructions must be adhered to at all times.
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Costa Blanca
Drugs discovered in fire extinguishers and sofa covers in stores in the English section of Benidorm

Benidorm Local Police detained seven persons on drug trafficking charges during an investigation at six pubs in the city’s so-called “English zone.” They discovered drugs disguised in fire extinguishers, sofa coverings, and toilet paper holders.
As part of the initiative to improve inspections of establishments in that area, six have been registered in Rincón de Loix in the previous month, with four being closed as a precautionary measure after drug quantities were discovered inside.
During this operation, the Local Police seized 200 grams of cocaine, 300 LSD and MDMA pills, 200 dosages of marijuana (THC), 20 grams of hashish, eight bottles of nitrous oxide, as well as numerous mobile phones and €3,000 in cash.
According to police spokeswoman Quique Tortosa, the recovered drugs “would have exceeded 30,000 euros on the black market.”
Modus operandi
The detainees’ tactics were remarkably similar: they buried the drugs in numerous spots across the facility. The narcotics were discovered strewn in a variety of locations, including fire extinguishers, electrical outlets, toilet paper holders, and even sofa coverings.
The seven arrested persons, who are of British, Pakistani, and Moroccan nationality, have been sent to the National Police Station so that the Drugs Unit can assess whether they will be tried in court.
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Costa Blanca
No electricity and few sales at the new temporary location of Torrevieja’s hippie market

During Holy Week, over 150 stalls from the hippy craft market opened their doors on Avenida de La Estación. This was their temporary location due to the beginning of renovation on Paseo de La Libertad and the port “landfill,” where they had been functioning since the 1990s.
The merchants have been operating without power since their doors opened on April 14. Those who wish to extend their workday until sundown, as shown here overlooking the Torrevieja lagoon, have secured a generator.
The City Council has recently began erecting overhead power lines at the intersection of Avenida de la Estación and Urbano Arregui, which will give energy to the region and serve as the first stretch of the street’s greenway.
In addition to these electrical projects, the City Council is working to improve pedestrian safety by altering pedestrian crossings to facilitate market access.
Most shopkeepers expressed disappointment. They are selling significantly less than they did at their previous site on Paseo de La Libertad.
The increase in attendance happened during Holy Week, despite the adverse weather, holidays, and weekends. On other days, the market is relatively quiet, with many vendors closed.
Merchants point out that the location is less awful than the one originally suggested in Antonio Soria Park. At least in this region, pedestrian access and free parking are available for individuals who park their cars in the improvised parking lot close to the Acequión Canal on their way downtown.
Moving the wooden stalls from Paseo de La Libertad to their new position cost the City Council 230,000 euros. The intention was for the merchants to have opened their new stalls by now, even if they were in a temporary location. But it was too late.
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Costa Blanca
Santa Pola man questioned by police for teaching children how to shoot a gun in a park

The Santa Pola Local Police responded to an incident near the town’s Skate Park in which a man used an air rifle in front of minors. According to the police force’s social media sites, the person was showing his son and other children how to use the rifle, including shooting rounds into the air.
The incident occurred a few days ago during the officers’ afternoon shift, while they patrolled the area to maintain the safety of public places. They discovered this abnormal condition, which threatened the safety of youngsters and other individuals.
The local police arrived quickly to the area and reported the occurrence to the proper authorities. Fortunately, no serious injuries or consequences were reported, but the incident has aroused worries regarding the reckless use of this type of weapon, particularly in the company of youngsters.
The Local Police attempted to jokingly highlight the gravity of the situation by wondering whether the culprit is a “Father of the Year” candidate. They also emphasised the necessity of promoting civility in public places and educating youngsters about safety regulations.
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