The special intensity of the storm, with strong winds and high rainfall, caused severe flooding and various damage to the coast in general and, in particular, at various points in the Maritime-Terrestrial Public Domain in which it is necessary to intervene without delay.
The repair of these damages has been valued at 19.5 million euros, of which 4.4 million will go to the Balearic Islands, 5.75 million to Catalonia and 8.1 million to the Valencian Community. By provinces, the damages in the coasts have been the following:
Balearic Islands
The storms suffered from January 19 to 24, 2020 caused damage in the municipalities of the Balearic Islands.
The damages whose repair can be assumed by the General Directorate of the Coast and the Sea consist of the arrangement of broken walkways, cordons, signage, collectors, as well as demolition and cleaning of numerous structures broken by the storm that pose a serious danger in municipal terms from Campos, Ses Salines, Satanyí, Felanitx, Manacor, Sant Llorenç des Cardassar, Son Servera, Capdepera, Artà, Santa Margalida, Muro, Alcúdia, Pollença, Escorca, Sóller, Deià, Valldemossa, Banyalbufar and Estellencs, in Mallorca. Maó, Es Mercadal, Ferreries, Ciutadella, Es Migjorn Gran, Alaior, Sant Lluís and Es Castell in Menorca, and Eivissa, Santa Eulària des Riu, Sant Joan de Labritja, Sant Antoni de Portmany and Sant Josep de Sa Talaia, in Ibiza and in the Insular Consell of Formentera. Its valuation amounts to 4,400,000 euros.
Girona
There have been damages in the protective jetty of the Sant Antoni promenade and the formation of cavities due to the loss of material under it, as well as in the exempt dikes on said beach.
It will be repaired by raising the planned investment to 250,000 euros.
Barcelona
In general, there have been losses of sand on the beaches, damage to coastal paths, walks and breakwaters, accumulation of large amounts of debris and dirt, in the municipal terms of Malgrat de Mar, Pineda de Mar and Barcelona.
The storms have also caused damage to the dune systems, breakwaters and promenades of Sant Pol de Mar, Arenys de Mar, Cabrera de Mar, Premià de Mar, El Masnou, Montgat, Gavà, Sitges, Viladecans and Cubelles.
The necessary actions for its repair that can be assumed by the General Directorate of the Coast and the Sea, mainly consist of contribution of aggregates to the beaches, recovery of dune systems, repair of access to the sea, repair of trails with soft materials, repair of defense walls, jets and dune cords and debris removal.
The estimated valuation is approximately 2,000,000 euros.
Tarragona
As a consequence of the storm, there has been significant erosion on most of the beaches on the coast of the province and considerable loss of sand, as well as damage to boardwalks, dune systems, protection jets and access to beaches. The actions to be executed basically consist of:
- Cunit: repair of damage to dune cords, breakwaters and access to the affected beaches of the municipality.
- Calafell, El Vendrell, Roda de Berà, Creixell, Torredembarra and Altafulla: restoration of dune systems and recovery of access to affected beaches.
- Tarragona: repair of access to affected beaches.
- Vila-seca: repair of damages in promenade located outside the public domain and dune cords.
- Salou: repair of damages in dune cords and access to the affected beaches of the municipality.
- Cambrils: breakwater repair, access to beaches and damage repair on the promenade located outside the public domain.
- Mont-roig: repair of damages in walks and breakwaters, as well as the repair of breakwaters.
- L'Hospitalet del Infant: repair of damages in dune cords, and access to the affected beaches of the municipality; as well as the repair of breakwaters.
- L'Ametlla de Mar: repair of damage to breakwaters and access to the affected beaches of the municipality.
- El Perelló: repair of damage to breakwaters and access to the affected beaches of the municipality; as well as the repair of breakwaters.
- L'Ampolla: repair of damage to dune cords, breakwaters, and access to the affected beaches of the municipality.
- Deltebre: repair of damage to dune cords, pedestrian paths and access to the affected beaches of the municipality.
- Amposta: recovery of access to the affected beaches of the municipality.
- Sant Jaume d'Enveja: repair of dune cords and recovery of access to the affected beaches.
- Sant Carles de la Ràpita: repair of dune cords, breakwaters and recovery of access to the affected beaches.
- Alcanar: repair of damage to breakwaters, pedestrian paths and access to the affected beaches of the municipality; as well as the repair and construction of escollerados
The total cost of the planned investment amounts to 3,500,000 euros.
Castellón
The main damages detected consist of losses of material from various beaches and dune systems of the municipalities of Almenara, La Llosa, Chilches, Moncofa, Nules, Almassora, Castelló de la Plana, Benicàssim, Oropesa del Mar, Cabanes, Torreblanca, Alcalà de Xivert and Peñíscola.
Likewise, there have been damages in the promenades and accesses to the beaches of Benicàssim, Alcalà de Xivert and Vinaròs, as well as to the breakwaters and protective structures of Moncofa, Nules, Burriana, Benicarló and Vinaròs.
The actions to be carried out would basically consist of contributions of material to the beaches and repair of the affected infrastructure. The planned investment amounts to 4,100,000 euros.
Valencia
The main damages have occurred in the beaches and dune systems of the municipalities of Sagunt, Puçol, El Puig, La Pobla de Farnals, Massamagrell, Alboraia, Valencia, Sueca, Cullera, Tavernes, Xeraco, Gandía, Daimús, Guardamar de la Safor , Miramar, Piles and Oliva and have consisted of loss of sand and gravel on beaches and dunes and the accumulation of debris and dirt.
Infrastructure damage has also been observed in the following beaches of Dossel and Brosquil, at t.m. from Cullera and on the promenade of Bellreguard. The valuation of the necessary repair works amounts to 4,000,000 euros.
Alicante
As a consequence of the storm, there has been significant erosion on several beaches on the coast of the province and considerable loss of sand, as well as damage to seafront, dune systems, protection jets and access to beaches. The actions to be carried out by the General Directorate of the Coast and the Sea basically consist of:
- Dénia: cleaning of debris and dirt from several beaches of the municipality, sand recirculation on the beach of les Deveses, various actions in Les Rotes, as well as the setback of the viewpoint of the promenade of the Marineta Casiana and the replacement of access to the beach.
- Jávea: Removal of the wall of Cala Blanca and withdrawal of reeds at the mouth of the Gorgos River.
- Benitatxell: repair of accesses in Cala Moraig with retrieval of access outside the public domain.
- Teulada: repair of the wall of the beach of l'Ampolla.
- Calpe: repair of various beaches in the municipality and removal of the debris present in them.
- Altea: repair of accesses, breakwaters and paths affected.
- L'Alfàs del Pi: repair of the wall of l'Albir.
- Villajoyosa: slope repair and fenced in Bol Nou.
- El Campello: repair of the wall of the promenade of Rincón de la Zofra.
- Elche: repair of walkways and debris removal.
- Guardamar del Segura: replacement of soft fencing and repair of walkways.
- Torrevieja: various repairs and contribution of sand in the affected coves.
- Orihuela: repair of the masonry wall, stairs and debris removal in Cabo Roig.
- Pilar de la Horadada: various repairs on several beaches and coves in the municipality.
The valuation of the necessary repair works amounts to 1,500,000 euros.
Make the coast resilient against climate change
Coasts are natural systems very sensitive to the effects of climate change that occur in the form of increased frequency and intensity of coastal storms, permanent flooding due to sea level rise, coastal erosion and loss of emblematic ecosystems due to Sea water heating.
Our beaches are the best protection of the territory against the effects of climate change, but for this it must have the necessary characteristics and strength, hence the urgent need to work for its resilience.
In Spain, increasingly habitual and destructive temps have resulted in extraordinary investments in the form of increasing emergency works in recent years. This type of reactive action does not achieve lasting solutions over time. In fact, almost all of these "reconstructions" almost immediately require a new reconstruction.
A coastal policy is necessary that, starting with the reconsideration of the legal regime of the Maritime-Terrestrial Public Domain, prioritizes planning against improvisation and in which the concept of Integrated Management of Coastal Areas – whose added value in the study set of the two components of the coast: the land and the sea have a preponderant role.
