WEATHER CAUSES HAVOC THROUGHOUT ALICANTE

News

Kevin Reardon / 2010-01-08 19:57:42

For a large part of Friday the road between Alcoy and Banyeres was closed.

The rains experienced throughout the Valencian region during the last 24 hours are being blamed by experts for a general decline in temperatures which have largely seen the temperatures plunge below zero, with a drop from yesterday of 7 degrees.

In Castellfort (Castellón) it fell to 6 degrees below zero. Many of the hilly areas saw the rain turn to quite heavy snow cutting off long stretches of rural roads for many hours.

Sources in the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET), said that the temperatures in Utiel (Valencia) fell to 3 degrees below zero while in the interior of Castellón and Valencia the precipitation turned into thick snow. Meanwhile the Valencian town of Xativa, saw levels of rain of up to 35 liters per square meter, while in Rojales there was 34 liters, and Valencia 27.

The Ministry of Education issued a statement saying that about five thousand students from forty villages in the region were unable to get into their schools as a result of snowstorms. In Alicante, classes were suspended at schools and colleges in Biar, La Canada, Benilloba, Castalla, Mariola-Maricadell de Bañeres, Torremanzanas and Xixona. In total, the students affected by province were 600 from the province of Castellon, Valencia 2,000 and 2,400 from Alicante.

On the roads one motorist was killed and four were injured in two accidents in Novelda and Alicante. In both cases the road was wet and the rain seems to have been a factor in both accidents.

The fatal accident occurred about 11:30 at kilometer 212 of the A-31 in Novelda, according to sources from the Guardia Civil de Tráfico. The incident occurred when an Opel Corsa left the highway and crashed into the fence at the side of the road.

One of the occupants, a 21 year old male, of the Corsa was thrown from the car by the impact and although he was evacuated by ambulance he died just being admitted to the Hospital in Elda. Another vehicle traveling on the highway collided with the Opel Corsa and the driver was slightly injured but was treated by ambulance crews at the side of the road.