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Altea hosts key emergency planning meeting for Guadalest dam risk

 

Altea / 29 April 2026

 

Authorities across the Marina Baixa region have stepped up coordination efforts to improve public safety in the event of a potential dam-related emergency, following a high-level technical meeting held in Altea.

 

The session, hosted at the town’s youth centre, focused on the Emergency Plan for the Guadalest Dam—a critical piece of infrastructure supplying water to the area but also posing a flood risk in extreme scenarios.

 

 

Regional coordination across multiple municipalities

The meeting brought together representatives from the Valencian regional government, emergency agencies and the Júcar River Basin Authority, alongside local officials from municipalities most at risk.

 

These included Guadalest, Benimantell, Callosa d’en Sarrià, Polop, La Nucía and Altea—areas connected by the Algar river basin, which would carry water in the event of a dam discharge or failure.

 

Local mayors, councillors, police chiefs and technical staff attended, underlining the operational importance of the plan.

 

Why Altea is particularly exposed

Altea plays a key role in the emergency strategy due to its position along the Algar River, where water from the dam ultimately flows.

 

This makes it one of the most vulnerable municipalities in a worst-case scenario, including flooding caused by extreme weather events such as a DANA storm.

 

What the emergency plan covers

Officials reviewed:

• The legal and regulatory framework underpinning the plan
• Structural characteristics of the dam
• Emergency response protocols and coordination systems
• Resources and responsibilities across agencies
• A major focus was on flood response procedures, including:
• Who activates emergency measures
• How evacuation decisions are made
• Communication between regional and local authorities

 

 

Public warning systems now in place

Altea has already implemented new acoustic alert systems in high-risk areas.

 

Loudspeakers installed at the Ciutat Esportiva and the seafront promenade will:

• Emit a 3-minute 10-second warning signal in case of emergency
• Use distinct tones to differentiate between alert and all-clear signals
• Officials say these systems are designed to provide rapid, clear instructions to residents and visitors if immediate action is required.
• Safety advice for residents and visitors

 

Authorities outlined key recommendations in the event of an emergency:

• Stay away from riverbeds, particularly the Algar
• Keep mobile phones charged and monitor official updates
• Prepare essential items such as medication, torches and radios
• Follow evacuation instructions strictly
• Avoid driving through flood-prone areas
• Do not attempt rescues—call emergency services instead

 

Special attention is also being given to vulnerable individuals and pet safety during evacuations.

 

A preventative approach to risk

Local leaders stressed that the plan is precautionary, not a response to any immediate threat.

The mayor of Altea said the goal is to ensure systems are in place “well before they are ever needed,” adding that authorities hope the measures will never have to be activated.

 

Officials across the region echoed the importance of coordination, warning that effective communication between municipalities is essential to protect residents in the event of a flood or structural incident.

 

Strengthening resilience in a high-risk region

The initiative reflects a broader effort to improve disaster preparedness in areas prone to extreme weather and seasonal pressure.

 

With increasing attention on climate risks and infrastructure resilience, authorities say planning, communication and early warning systems are critical to safeguarding both residents and the region’s large tourist population.