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Benidorm studies the temperature of its streets to understand “heat island effect”

What is the most scorching location in Benidorm? The inquiry may appear trivial; however, it can assist us in comprehending the city’s response to the “heat island effect.” And that is the objective of the City Council: to ascertain the temperature of various busy or well-known areas of the municipality in order to make future decisions and implement measures to mitigate the impact on residents and travellers.

To this end, the Department of Public Space is conducting a study in collaboration with the University of Valencia to comprehend the impact of this influence. The objective is to determine the areas or locations in the municipality that are impacted by this effect by utilising scientific and research data. This will enable the implementation of decisions and measures to mitigate the effect and enhance the climate comfort of the population.

Additionally, how? Initially, 20 sensors (thermometers) have been deployed in a variety of locations throughout the municipality, including seafront promenades, parks, educational areas, and busy spaces with high volumes of residents and tourists. For more than one month, they have been gathering data. In other words, they collect temperature data at specific locations, resulting in a “mesh” of detailed information, as elucidated by Francis Muñoz, the councillor for the region, and Adrián Ferrandis, a researcher at the University of Valencia.

The data is currently undergoing analysis, following the completion of the initial sampling. Ferrandis clarified that the provisional data obtained indicates that “there are significant differences of between two and three degrees Celsius in several areas,” despite the fact that it is still too early to draw conclusions. This is contingent upon the soil type and the degree of naturalisation in the region. In other words, whether the pavement is less heat-retaining or there are fewer or more trees. This, however, is only the initial phase; a subsequent measurement will be conducted in June.

Adrián Ferrandis further stated that the data collected will be compared “from one measurement to another to obtain a very rough understanding of the situation.” Lastly, the university will compile a report that will be submitted to the City Council, providing guidance on the decisions that should be made.

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Benidorm has specific streets or avenues that offer a respite for residents and tourists while they are wandering through the streets in the full sun. This is particularly true if the streets are characterised by tall vegetation that provides shade. This is the case with Avenida del Mediterráneo, which, following a comprehensive renovation, is now adorned with substantial trees in the modernised area. Therefore, the temperature can fluctuate by as much as five degrees during the summer from this bustling street to a mere few metres from the Levante promenade, where the sun is at its most intense.

The City Council intends to verify each of these concerns with dependable data. Muñoz stated that the areas under investigation are meticulously examined; they are not determined arbitrarily or without consideration. The research will enable the formulation of decisions regarding the implementation of “measures such as the renaturalisation of spaces or the implementation of textile architecture,” including shade. The study’s ultimate objective is to “provide the city with an adequate amount of data to establish its priorities in accordance with the information it possesses in order to enhance the comfort of its citizens.”

The activity in this area is a component of Benidorm’s Climate Change Action Plan. The ultimate objective is to “improve and adapt the city to ensure that its spaces are more comfortable for people in terms of temperature.” It is imperative to have the most comprehensive data available to aid the City Council in its subsequent decision-making, the design of the actions to be taken, and the areas in which they will be implemented in order to accomplish this. “It is a scientific method that will ascertain the regions that are affected by the heat island effect, allowing us to reduce it through climate corridors or spaces,” Ferrandis continued.


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Costa Blanca

Firefighters rescue a hiker after fracturing her tendon whilst hiking

A 68-year-old woman was rescued by members of the Provincial Fire Consortium at the Albir Lighthouse in Alfaz del Pi (Alicante) on Saturday, April 26th. She was en route to the l’Alt del Governador de la Serra Gelada when she sustained a fracture of the Achilles tendon, rendering it impossible for her to recommence walking.

The rescue helicopter Alpha 01 and the special group of rescue (GER) were deployed to the scene after the notice was received at approximately 12:28 p.m., according to a statement from the Consortium.

The helicopter was activated to provide rescue services with the GER when the woman was unable to reach the ambulance due to the area’s orography.

The firefighters descended to their position after they were located, and the injured joint was splinted.


Subsequently, they deployed a hoist to elevate the woman to the helicopter, which transported her to San Vicente Park, where she was met by a Basic Life Support (BLS) unit. The intervention concluded at 1:35 p.m.

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National Police arrest two women in Benidorm for stealing from tourists

National Police Car

Two women have been apprehended by the National Police in Benidorm for stealing wallets and luggage from tourists, which are believed to contain their most valuable possessions, near their vacation rentals.

The investigation commenced in late 2024, although officers were already aware of the actions of these individuals as a result of numerous other incidents that had occurred on the same premises, including thefts from travellers who were preparing to arrive or depart from their accommodations.

The consistent modus operandi facilitated the investigation, enabling the discovery of the individuals after nearly half a year.

Both suspects were travelling from Alicante to Benidorm in a vehicle and were observed loitering in the city’s tourist areas. They concentrated their attention on the entrances of hotels and public transport stations for the purpose of observing tourist arrivals and pickups.

They selected these locations where tourists are waiting with their luggage, either to be served by reception staff or to be picked up by transport, as these are the times when they give the least attention to their belongings.

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The two women also did not hesitate to follow elderly individuals who had departed from these tourist accommodations to wander around, with the intention of exploiting their negligence and stealing their belongings from their purse or knapsack.

The robbery was consistently executed in the same manner. One of them monitored the area and provided cover, while the other perpetrated the larceny of the property. They then fled in the vehicle they frequently used.

In this manner, the investigation was able to identify the actions of the two suspects, who made Benidorm their preferred location, in at least five specific incidents that took place between September 2024 and March 2025. Each of these incidents revealed evidence of their involvement.

The judicial authority deprived both women of their right to access the restricted area of Benidorm, which includes the area where they conducted their criminal activity, as a preventive measure to eradicate their criminal activity in the city, following their arrest.

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Kirsty Maxwell Benidorm balcony death to be probed in new series

A new series expects the five men who last saw Kirsty Maxwell alive to provide answers in a podcast that investigates her mysterious death in Spain.

After a night out on a hen do in 2017, Kirsty, a newlywed, plummeted to her death from a balcony at a hotel in Benidorm.

Before her death, Kirsty, 27, of Livingston, inadvertently entered a 10th-floor flat that was occupied by five British men: Joseph Graham, Ricky Gammon, Anthony Holehouse, Callum Northridge and Daniel Bailey.

In July 2020, they were cleared of being homicide suspects after judges determined that there was no “strong evidence” of criminality and no indication that she had not fallen to her death.

Nevertheless, Kirsty’s mother and father, who are devastated, are adamant that she did not leap of her own volition. The case and an appeal for information are the focus of the six-part podcast, “What happened to Kirsty Maxwell.”

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True Crime podcaster Naomi Channell, who narrates and produces the series, says, “I do not believe it was a tragic accident.” All the evidence suggests that she was fleeing from something.

“There are still numerous unanswered questions.”

“It is my sincere hope that this will exert pressure on the authorities and on those who were present in the flat but have never been adequately investigated.”

Naomi met Kirsty’s family at a UK Crimecon convention in 2023, where she was present with Sue Horan, the wife of Stuart Lubbock, who passed away under suspicious circumstances at the residence of television personality Michael Barrymore in 2001.

In her podcast, she recounts how upon Kirsty’s arrival at the apartments with her friends, “a shirtless man” approached them at the elevators and enquired, “Who wants to get f*** tonight?”

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Kirsty returned to the apartments early in the morning after a night out, during which she consumed alcohol but did not have any narcotics in her system.

It is unclear why she awoke, proceeded to the 10th floor, and knocked on the door of room 10E. The room was shared by five men, including the shirtless man, who were all from the Nottingham area.

One of them informed the authorities. Before jumping over the Juliette balcony to her demise, Kirsty attempted to climb through a small window in the bathroom and then ran through the apartment window.

Naomi stated, “Kirsty died instantly after falling at 7.51 a.m.” One of the men reported to the police that he had observed her fall. This individual was the sleeveless man, and his name is Joseph Graham.

Adam, Kirsty’s spouse, received a call from the Spanish police informing him that she had passed away. He was compelled to inform her mother, Denise, of the tragic news. The couple had married only eight months prior.

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Brian Curry, her father, expressed his disbelief, stating, “Even to this day, it is extremely difficult to accept.”

The podcast delves into the process by which Kirsty’s family travelled to Benidorm to initiate their own investigation three months after her death, as they encountered a “wall of silence” from the police.

Naomi, a podcaster from Essex, stated, “No parent should ever be required to investigate the death of their own child.”

“Brian requested 12 hours of footage that encompassed the period prior to and following Kirsty’s death; however, the police provided him with only seven minutes of edited footage.

Kirsty’s fall is not depicted in a traumatic three-second footage captured by a camera at the poolside, which captures her impact with the ground. Brian is of the opinion that the footage was edited by an individual.

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“According to investigators, the remaining CCTV footage has disappeared.” The police were compelled to acknowledge that they had disposed of the garments the day following Kirsty’s death. Her attire would have served as indispensable evidence.

“They claimed that the reason was that the clothing was stained with blood.” They acknowledged that the only method of examination was visual.

David Swindle, the retired Strathclyde detective who established Victims Abroad, was astounded by the deficiencies of the investigation.

He stated that the Spanish Police failed to conduct thorough investigations into the evidence, including independent witnesses, and did not advance forensics or CCTV footage.

“These men were not separated and were not interviewed properly.” DNA issues were encountered, samples were not collected, and Kirsty’s clothing was incinerated.

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“Throughout my tenure as an investigator, I was unable to comprehend it.” “If we had all of that, we would be better equipped to understand what transpired with Kirsty.”

The podcast, which will be available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon on April 29, commemorates the eight-year anniversary of Kirsty’s passing.


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