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Date Published: 10/03/2023

VIDEO: Outdoor activities suspended and parks and road closed in Orihuela due to strong winds

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Gusts of up to 55 km/h are expected in the centre of Orihuela today (Friday March 10) and 80 km/h in the outskirts

VIDEO: Outdoor activities suspended and parks and road closed in Orihuela due to strong winds

For the second time this year, Orihuela Town Hall has been forced to suspend all outdoor activities at Palmeral sports centre and the Bernardo Ruiz pavilion due to strong winds.

While much of the province is basking in highs of around 25ºC, fierce gusts blew over two palm trees at the sports centre on Friday morning, one on Avenida García Rogel which caused no personal injury but did cause extensive material damage to the terrace of a bar. The other fell behind the Bernardo Ruiz pavilion without causing any damage.

112 Emergencies has issued a yellow wind risk warning, and in response to the alert and tree incidents, Orihuela's Department of Emergencies has not only suspended outdoor activities, but also closed Gabriel Miró and Severo Ochoa roundabout parks to "avoid any incidents".

And the Local Police have closed Avenida García Rogel to traffic to "prevent any accidents", although residents will be given access to their homes and school transport will be able to pass.

It is also forbidden to burn any agricultural waste for the moment. "All of these measures will be reviewed if the wind subsides," added the council.

This isn't likely to be within a matter of just hours, however, as gusts of up to 55 km/h are expected in the centre of Orihuela today, and 80 km/h in the outskirts.

Back in January, the municipal sports centre and Bernardo Ruiz pavilion were closed due to the yellow warning for gusts of wind of up to 50 km/h issued by the State Agency of Meteorology (Aemet).

Similarly, playgrounds located in areas with trees, such as the Gabriel Miró roundabout and the Severo Ochoa park, were also shut to the public, and schools located in the Palmeral (CEIP Villas Palasí, CEIP Fernado de Loaces, Antonio Sequeros Special Education Center and El Palmeral nursery school) were advised not to use the outdoor areas.

In just 24 hours, firefighters responded to 93 wind-related call-outs as roofs were blown off and trees and lampposts were felled.

Other news: VIDEO: British and Belgian expats living in Torrevieja arrested for stealing motorbikes in Murcia and Alicante

Image 1: Policia Local de Orihuela

Image 2: Ayuntamiento de Orihuela

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