In total, 421 schools have cancelled classes. Credit: JW.photography31 / Shutterstock.com
Classes were suspended for a second day on Tuesday September 9 in 44 municipalities across the Costa Blanca, leaving more than 215,000 students at home due to the orange weather alert for heavy rain. The closures also affect students at the University of Alicante and the Miguel Hernández University of Elche.
The decision was taken after numerous town halls, meeting in their local emergency committees, agreed to suspend lessons and close outdoor facilities in response to the risk of flooding. The Generalitat Valenciana has also declared a level 1 emergency.
In total, 355 state schools, along with 52 semi-private and 14 private schools, have cancelled classes. Among the first councils to act were El Campello, Sant Joan d’Alacant, Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig and Aigües, later joined by dozens more across the province.
In the Vega Baja area, municipalities including Torrevieja, Almoradí, Dolores, Guardamar del Segura, Callosa de Segura and Rojales ordered schools shut. Closures were also confirmed in Elche, Santa Pola and Crevillente in the Bajo Vinalopó; Benidorm and Orxeta in the Marina Baixa; Calpe, Javea and Teulada in the Marina Alta; as well as several inland towns.
The storms have also forced changes to local festivities. In Elda, concerts and activities for the Fiestas Mayores were cancelled. Xàbia suspended a planned orchestra performance and moved its fireworks forward, while Villena cancelled the Moors and Christians procession, with the mayor suggesting a reduced alternative route might still take place.
Authorities have urged people to work remotely where possible and to avoid unnecessary travel. Councils across the Costa Blanca have reminded residents that “prevention and collective responsibility are key to ensuring the safety of our population” during this period of severe weather.