The night of the blackout in Alicante was uneventful due to the extensive deployment of National Police officers, who were responsible for ensuring security and preventing looting or vandalism that could benefit from the power disruption.

Although police sources have stated that this type of violation is common and cannot be associated with the power disruption, numerous thefts from vehicles parked on public roads were reported last night.

The Provincial Police Station organised a massive deployment that involved officers from all brigades, in addition to the regular force. During the blackout night, they made five arrests, two for gender-based violence and one for coercing a tenant in a residence.

Additionally, police apprehended a North African male who was transporting a machete in a vehicle. The city of Alicante experienced a reduction in criminal offences as a result of the extensive police deployment.

The robberies affected the owners of a car and a van in the Rabasa neighbourhood, who had their windows smashed early in the morning to take their possessions.

Residents of this neighbourhood have recently reported that drug addicts have been residing there, sleeping in tents. They are willing to consider the possibility that these individuals are connected to robberies and other criminal offences, such as the theft of a bicycle.

The Generalitat (the Catalan government) is in the process of finalising the initial phase of its emergency plan to address the housing crisis in the Valencian Community. On Tuesday, April 29th, the Generalitat received the final pending proposals for the construction of subsidised housing units which include 629 homes in Torrevieja.

This announcement is the result of the tendering process that was published in December and is the responsibility of the Ministry of Social Services, Equality, and Housing. At that time, President Carlos Mazón evaluated the transition from “zero public housing in eight years” to “the bidding process for 1,675 social housing units in the Valencian Community by the end of 2024.”

The Valencian Housing and Land Authority is responsible for the implementation of this system, as the First Vice-Presidency of the Consell has noted. The barter of land in exchange for construction facilitated a process for which this entity is accountable.

The initiative has been most widely adopted by municipalities in the province of Alicante. Elche, Sant Joan, Sant Vicent del Raspeig, Torrevieja, Vila Joiosa, and Xàbia have also joined, in addition to the capital. Castelló, Gandia, Sagunt, and Valencia are the four additional municipalities that have joined these.

The deadline for submitting proposals in all of these municipalities expired in March. The only bidder to receive a one-month extension was Torrevieja. The ministry’s statement emphasises that “the interest generated was so substantial that 31 companies submitted bids”, some of which were for multiple plots.

Six companies have submitted proposals for Torrevieja, where the construction of approximately 629 residences is scheduled to commence. The deadline for submission is now approaching.

The Consell established the Vive Plan of the Valencian Community, which includes these actions. The plan’s objective is to use available public land, both regional and municipal, to construct protected housing.

Currently, the Generalitat (Catalan Government) is forming numerous contracting committees to oversee the execution of these tenders. The First Vice-Presidency recently announced the proposed award to two companies for the construction of 72 houses in Elche and an additional 29 homes in the Garbinet area of Alicante. Sixteen of these 101 residences will be incorporated into the Generalitat’s public housing inventory.

This is all part of the Valencian Government’s objective to promote the construction of affordable, social housing to address the current housing crisis. The Generalitat (Catalan government) maintains that this initiative is being enthusiastically received and emphasises that it has “promoted substantial interest in the industry.” The objective is to construct 10,000 social housing units during this period.

“Be careful, smoke is coming out.” And it was coming out. That intensely black smoke turned into a terrifying fire that engulfed a municipal vehicle. The cause is unknown. Flames engulfed the electric car, which was charging in front of the town hall. The council is renting it.

Local police units were dispatched to the scene and, according to initial reports, moved other vehicles to the side to prevent the flames from spreading. They heard explosions. Firefighters from the Benissa unit arrived and brought the blaze under control. The area, in the heart of Calp, had to be cordoned off. There was tremendous excitement. Life in such a central location came to a halt. All this happened around 7:30 a.m. yesterday, Tuesday, April 29th.