- Business
- Childbirth & Education
- Legal Formalities
- Motoring
- Other
- Pensions & Benefits
- Property & Accommodation
- Taxes
- Airports and Airlines Spain
- Paramount Theme Park Murcia Spain
- Corvera International Airport Murcia Spain
- Join us for Tea on the Terrace
- When Expat Eyes Are Smiling
- Meet Wincham at The Homes, Gardens & Lifestyle Show, Calpe
- QROPS 2014
- Spain Increases IHT in Valencia & Murcia
- Removals to Spain v Exports from Spain
- The Charm of Seville
- Gibraltar Relations
- Retiro Park : Madrid
- Community Insurance in Spain
- Calendar Girls
- Considerations when Insuring your Boat in Spain
- QROPS – HMRC Introduces changes that create havoc in the market place
- QROPS – All Change From April 2012
- Liva & Laia : 15th November
Aftershocks continue to rock Lorca and strike further fear into its already nervous residents almost a week after the most devastating earthquakes to strike Spain in 50 years.
Funerals took place last Friday for the 9 people killed in the disaster, 2 of whom were pregnant women. Funerals of 4 of the victims were attended by Spain's Prince & Princess and the President of Spain in a show of solidarity.
Relatives of the remaining 5 victims refused access to these dignitaries and instead opted for more private ceremonies. Their wishes were respected.
The huge government relief operation is being supported by the military, emergency services and charitable organisations, along with psychologists, child support agencies and social welfare departments on hand in a coordinated effort to help Lorca and its residents back to some kind of normality as quickly as possible.
However, several thousand people are still camped out in make shift camps across the city with little hope of being allowed back into their damaged homes anytime soon.
Many of those affected have had their properties deemed structurally dangerous prohibiting access to anyone or unsafe to be occupied but access permitted to collect belongings only.
Lorca's main hospital, Rafael Mendez, has reopened although some departments are still closed due to structural problems.
All schools remain closed, with some scheduled for complete demolition, whilst others require urgent structural work before they can reopen.
Several businesses have seen their premises deemed too dangerous to operate from, whilst many more across the city have been unable to open as members of staff directly affected by the earthquakes are understandably absent from work.
Political candidates for the local mayor elections had agreed to postpone the elections whilst more pressing issues were being dealt with, however there are rumours that the elections will go ahead as planned.
Worryingly, there are unconfirmed reports of one candidate visiting affected residents and using the tragedy to sway opinion against the current town hall leadership.
With so many abandoned homes and closed businesses in the city, there is a highly visible police presence from the Local and National Police, along with the Guardia Civil and Military, aimed at preventing any civil unrest, looters and even residents trying to sneak back into properties deemed too dangerous to enter.