Orihuela Costa Floods Again as Years of Council Inaction Leave Roads Underwater

Orihuela Costa faces recurring flooding issues as decades of council neglect leave roads inundated. Despite a stormwater management plan from 2016, essential infrastructure improvements remain uncompleted. Wednesday's rainfall brought back familiar scenes of disrupted traffic and stranded residents. The N-332 underpass near municipal offices in Playa Flamenca became a symbol of the council's failure to address longstanding drainage deficiencies.

Although a €423,138 stormwater collector was initially planned, the project has been delayed due to multiple contract awards and evaluations. The council has promised completion before the end of 2026, but residents question the priority given to coastal infrastructure investment. Schoolchildren have had to navigate flooded streets, and the problem extends beyond the underpass to nearby roads.

Critics argue that the lack of investment in stormwater drainage has left neighborhoods vulnerable to flooding, even during moderate rainfall. The flooding also marked the 39th anniversary of the 1987 floods, which required military intervention and highlighted the area's vulnerability. Despite the recent rainfall being far below historic levels, the disruption demonstrated how even moderate rain can overwhelm inadequate infrastructure.

Residents argue that decades of promises and budgets have not addressed the problem, leaving them at risk every time it rains.