Storm leaves entire beaches on Spanish island without sand

Waves hit a partially damaged bridge during a storm in Badalona's beach, on the outskirts of Barcelona, Spain. File picture: Joan Mateu/AP

Waves hit a partially damaged bridge during a storm in Badalona's beach, on the outskirts of Barcelona, Spain. File picture: Joan Mateu/AP

Published Feb 7, 2020

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Madrid - Several beaches in the east of the Spanish island of

Mallorca were severely damaged by cyclone Gloria last month.

"More than 50 per cent of our 1.8 kilometre-long beach was washed

into the sea," said Marcial Rodriguez from a local tourism

association in Cala Millor.

The storm, which raged for three days, also destroyed lifeguard

towers and sanitary facilities.

Torrential rain and meter-high waves caused 11.2 million euros (12.2

million dollars) worth of damage, the newspaper Ultima Hora reported.

The beaches of Manacor, Son Servera, Felanitx, Capdepera, Sant

Llorenc, Santanyi and Pollenca are practically without sand.

Local authorities now hope for immediate aid from Madrid to be able

to restore the beaches before the tourist season hits. It will be a

lengthy and expensive process, as some beaches in San Severa only

have rocks left. Ohers are covered in metre-high layers of algae,

authorities said.

More than 3,000 cubic metres of sand are needed in Sant Llorenc alone

in order to refill all beaches.

dpa

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