Aragon Grapples with Aftermath of Devastating Storm in Campo de Belchite
The Campo de Belchite region is working tirelessly to recover from the severe damage inflicted by Friday’s storm. Unused bridges and severed roads have forced residents to endure detours of up to 50 kilometers. The Aragonese Government estimates repairs will cost up to six million euros and take approximately six months.
from the A-222,near one of the destroyed bridges,Minister of Development Octavio López called for a “deep reflection” on the cleaning of channels and ravines in Aragon. The goal is to prevent similar situations from recurring or worsening.
“This is not a criticism of the president of the Ebro Hydrographic Confederation, with whom there is good coordination, but a call to act,” stated López, emphasizing that proactive investments in channel maintenance coudl significantly reduce or even prevent such extensive damage.
Recovery efforts continue today across affected municipalities, including Azuara, Letux, Herrera de los Navarros, Villar de los Navarros, Moyuela, La Zaida, and Vinaceite.
In Herrera de los Navarros, machinery and Civil Protection volunteers have been deployed to repair access to a farm. Azuara has received support from four firefighters from the Diputación de Zaragoza and volunteers. In Letux, four brigades are working with water pumps, with an additional brigade in Almonacid de la Cuba.
Efforts are underway to manage the delivery of machinery to Almochuel to restore track access. In Vinaceite, Civil protection is assisting in the search for farm animals.
A comprehensive response team is on the ground,including a medical unit with a doctor,nurse,technician,and driver; volunteers from Belchite,Daroca,and Bajo Martín campo groups; technicians from the Aragonese Water Institute; firefighters from the Deputations of Zaragoza and Teruel (focused on restoring water supply); Endesa technicians addressing the electricity network; and Civil and Logistics Protection personnel coordinating the overall response.
Minister López highlighted the severity of the situation, noting that “mobility in the region is restricted.” He cited the destruction of the A-222 bridge in Belchite as a prime example of the storm’s ferocity, where the sheer force of the water completely eroded its supports.
He further explained that vegetation dragged by the storm has blocked the road to Lécera,and a similar situation exists on the A-130 towards Azuara,necessitating detours of up to 50 kilometers.
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