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Storm damage in Lorca estimated at €30 million
The City Council has added losses of €13 million euros due to 1,000 hectares of crops being devastated to its previous estimate of €14 million
The recent storms in Murcia that struck Lorca particularly hard have left a trail of destruction in their wake, with the damage to the municipality’s irrigated crops described as “catastrophic”. Lorca Mayor Fulgencio Gil provided an update this Tuesday March 11, stating that while the moderate rainfall up to Thursday 6 had been beneficial for the region, the subsequent intense water discharge caused severe losses.
According to local agricultural organisations, more than 1,000 hectares of farmland have been affected, primarily damaging crops such as broccoli, lettuce, spinach, artichoke and thyme. The mayor estimated that direct losses to crops could amount to between €12 and €13 million.
These agricultural losses add to the previously reported damage to infrastructure, which the City Council had already assessed at €14 million. Consequently, the total financial impact of the storm on Lorca now stands at approximately €30 million.
In response, Mayor Gil has confirmed that the municipality will soon submit an application for disaster area status to the Government Delegation. This request, which has the support of the regional government, will include compensation claims for agricultural losses.
Gil highlighted the severe economic implications of the damage, pointing out that agriculture represents nearly half of Lorca’s economy. “The outlook is very bad,” he said, adding that further crop damage could become evident in the coming days. “Some crops, such as lettuce, have already lost their roots.”
Meanwhile, the Councillor for Agriculture, Sara Rubira, explained that while some farmland is draining water effectively, other plots remain partially flooded, raising concerns about the spread of fungal diseases and the viability of summer crops.
She reassured affected farmers that agricultural trade offices and technicians from the Regional Ministry will continue to assess the situation and monitor the impact in the worst-hit areas.
Rubira also reiterated the regional government’s commitment to supporting the disaster area declaration, ensuring that the hardest-hit municipalities receive the necessary aid to recover from this devastating event.
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Images: Ayuntamiento de Lorca
