Torrevieja’s Socialist Party (PSOE) is calling on the local council to take formal steps to commemorate the victims of a devastating air raid carried out during the Spanish Civil War. The proposal, submitted by party spokesperson Bárbara Soler, seeks to reinstate official remembrance events and establish lasting public recognition for the civilians killed on 25 August 1938.
On that date, Italian fascist aircraft allied with Franco’s forces launched a deadly bombing over the town. Nineteen people lost their lives, many of them women and children waiting in line to buy fish. Dozens more were injured in the attack, which remains one of the darkest episodes in Torrevieja’s modern history.
Soler has criticised the council’s current approach, arguing that victims in other cities—such as Alicante, where a similar bombing killed hundreds—receive greater institutional recognition. While Alicante holds annual ceremonies led by the mayor, Torrevieja has not held an official tribute since 2019.
At present, remembrance is limited to events organised by local heritage groups and political organisations, with no involvement from the Town Hall. The PSOE believes this silence contributes to the fading memory of the tragedy and reflects a worrying detachment from democratic values.
In its motion, the party proposes the formal establishment of 25 August as an annual day of remembrance, alongside a public ceremony involving a minute of silence, a reading of a commemorative statement, and the laying of flowers in honour of the victims.
The proposal also includes the installation of a permanent memorial stone at the port—listing the names of those who died—and a request that these names be considered when naming future streets in the city.
Soler concluded by praising the ongoing efforts of community groups to preserve the memory of the victims, noting that despite political differences, many organisations have worked with a shared goal: to ensure Torrevieja never forgets.
Author: CBD
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