Aragon, one month of DANA: a long way to go

This November 29th marked one month since the last DANA that devastated the south of Valencia and also 
caused damage in Aragon, hitting several regions of the province of Teruel and Zaragoza. More than 50 towns in Aragon have reported damage and are now working tirelessly to try to return to normality.

The image of overflowing rivers and ravines, as well as flooded houses and garages or raised roads, remains in the retina of many residents, especially those who live in regions such as the Cuencas Mineras,  Matarraña, Calatayud or Bajo Aragón-Caspe.

To deal with the damage, the Government of Aragon published a line of aid that already covers fifty municipalities, but there are still places not included. They are complementary to those of the central Government.

THE SITUATION IN THE MATARRAÑA BASIN

In the Matarraña basin, the four towns of Bajo Aragón-Caspe involved (Maella, Nonaspe, Fayón and Fabara) regret that the Spanish Government does not include them as a disaster area. “That would then allow us to qualify for aid. They are forgetting about us. We need institutional support because the Town Councils cannot bear all the costs,” explained the Mayor of Maella, Elena Mireia Bondía, to Aragón Digital.

Following the waters of the river, already in the Matarraña region itself, in Mazaleón, the damage reached roads, irrigation ditches, roofs and even the water pumps of swimming pools or the heating of schools.

They estimate that they will need around 300,000 euros and are now working on obtaining a well to obtain drinking water. “When these types of storms come, we have to close the current intake because it becomes turbid. The well survey had been carried out but until now it had been paralysed,” said the municipal leader, Rosa Orona.

MONTALBÁN AND THE HOZ DE LA VIEJA IN THE MINING BASINS

In the Mining Basins, the most affected town was Montalbán, which continues to repair damages, estimated at around 3.5 million euros, day after day. It should be remembered that the Government of Aragon announced a few days ago a collaboration agreement to cover the costs  of the repairs.

In La Hoz de la Vieja, the initial devastating image has improved, but the solutions are still provisional (for example, with the drinking water network) and the damages amount to over 400,000 euros.

On the other hand, in the Calatayud region work continues on the ZP-3403 road, which was reopened by the DPZ 15 days ago. The situation at the Monasterio de Piedra remains critical, as it remains closed and is not expected to open until 2025.

According to the Cultural Park, work has already begun and is being carried out “without stopping” but progress is slow. The hope is, for now, to be able to return to normality in “the first quarter of 2025 ”.

However, towns such as Cimballa , on the banks of the Piedra River, are still receiving electricity from a generator four weeks later. “It will still be a long time and everyone is doing what they can. Beyond the road, not much progress has been made,” local sources lament.