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Finestrat hosts a mountain rescue drill with drone units and Artificial Intelligence programs

Puig Campana has been the scene of search drills for missing people in the mountains with drone technology and Artificial Intelligence programs. They are the latest technologies applied to mountain safety.

This drill is part of the events on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Finestrat Local Police and has had the participation of 15 professionals including Alicante city firefighters, firefighters from the provincial Consortium and the agents of the Finestrat Police force, and the distributor of ASD Drones programs.

The practices began around 9:00 a.m. from the Command Post, located in Font del Molí, at the foot of Puig Campana.

In the air, 3 drones, one from each unit.
In the mountains, 6 decoys to detect, locate and practice rescu and in the simulation, each drone inspects the mountain areas and carries out 2 types of search: a visual one using the images captured by its camera and another automatic, more innovative search, through the application of Artificial Intelligence programs such as LOC8. "The program detects a garment made by a human being, or a certain color, or a certain shape... and sends alerts that allow us to locate the lost person, in this case the decoy."

They were accompanied on this day of practical exercises by the councilor for Citizen Security, Beatriz Quintillán, and the councilor for New Technologies and Modernization, Héctor Baldó.

In the words of the councilor, Beatriz Quintillán, “from the Local Police we have been using the aerial surveillance unit for mountain rescues for several years. We have already intervened in several real cases. In fact, this device was key to recently locating two hikers lost in Puig Campana. He did this by using thermal cameras that detected his body temperature at night. The drone has also guided people lost off-piste at night with its light sources until they regained the path and could descend on their own. It has a loudspeaker and a load capacity of up to 4 kg, which allows objects such as water bottles to be thrown. It is one of the clearest examples of technology at the service of safety, in this case in the mountains. And the drills serve as preparation to coordinate the different emergency personnel when adopting the most appropriate protocol in a real situation. So we are very grateful, from Finestrat, to the Firefighters for their involvement in this drill.”

🌴 What’s On This Week – Costa Blanca

(Benidorm & surrounding areas)

Overview

This week across Benidorm, Altea, Albir, Finestrat, and La Nucía is mainly:

Weekly markets and street trading

Live music in bars and small venues

Early spring coastal tourism activity (boat trips, promenades)

Small cultural events and exhibitions

Gradual build-up toward May festivals in Benidorm

BENIDORM – Events and Activity

Markets and street life

Wednesday and Sunday main street markets (large general markets for clothing, food, and goods)
Old Town craft stalls operating in the evenings
Night markets becoming more active as tourist season builds

Cultural activity

Early preparations and signage for the Medieval Market coming soon in central Benidorm
Small pop-up performances in Old Town squares (musicians, street entertainment)

Nightlife and entertainment

Live music every night across the main strips (cover bands, tribute acts, karaoke)
DJ sets and bar entertainment increasing toward peak season
Rooftop bars and terrace venues reopening more consistently

Overall feel

Benidorm is in an active pre-summer phase with strong nightlife and steady tourist flow.

ALTEA – Cultural and coastal atmosphere

Old Town and culture
Art galleries and artisan shops open daily
Small exhibitions and cultural displays in local venues

Live music

Acoustic and low-key live music in bars around Old Town and seafront areas
Occasional weekend performances in Irish and cocktail bars

Sea activities

Boat trips operating from Altea harbour including:
Coastal cruises
Sunset sailing trips
Swimming stops depending on weather conditions

Overall feel

Quiet, scenic, and cultural with a strong focus on relaxation rather than nightlife.

ALBIR / ALFÀS DEL PI – Mixed expat and local activity

Markets

Friday weekly street market with food, clothing, and household goods
Nearby Sunday markets in Altea also attract visitors from the area

Live music

Regular pub and bar entertainment, especially in Irish and rock-themed venues
Weekly live bands and acoustic performances across multiple venues

Cultural venues

Casa de Cultura hosting small theatre events, exhibitions, and community activities
Regular local group meetings and social clubs

Overall feel

Balanced area with both relaxed daytime atmosphere and active evenings.

LA NUCÍA – Local and sporting focus

Markets

Sunday rastro (large flea market with antiques, tools, clothes, and food stalls)
Entertainment
Occasional live music in local bars, mostly weekends

Sports activity

Large sports complex hosting training camps, tournaments, and weekend events

Overall feel

Quiet residential town with activity concentrated around weekends and sports events.

FINESTRAT – Beach and market lifestyle

Markets

Tuesday and Saturday markets in La Cala area with a mix of local produce and goods

Beachfront activity

Beach bars and restaurants increasingly open in the evenings
Sunset dining season beginning again

Entertainment

Low-key live music in beachfront bars rather than organised events

Overall feel

Relaxed coastal town focused on beach life and casual evenings.

OVERALL SUMMARY

Benidorm: busiest area with nightlife, markets, and entertainment

Altea: cultural, scenic, and relaxed

Albir / Alfàs del Pi: balanced mix of live music and expat social life

La Nucía: local, quiet, and sports-focused

Finestrat: beach-oriented and low-key

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Finestrat hosts a mountain rescue drill with drone units and Artificial Intelligence programs

🌴 What’s On This Week – Costa Blanca

(Benidorm & surrounding areas)

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