In the broadcast of the radio program "Agropopular" of September 14, a balance was made of the damages caused by the severe storms recently recorded in the province of Alicante. Ramón Espinosa, secretary of ASAJA Alicante, José Vicente Andreu, president of ASAJA Orihuela, and Carlos Cuenca, editor of COPE Alicante, shared their opinions. ASAJA Alicante As explained by Ramón Espinosa, the storm has hit around 150,000 hectares, both in the Alto Vinalopó and in the Vega Baja. The latter, which accounts for 50% of the province's agriculture, has been the most damaged. “We are talking about a real misfortune. Everything is devastated.” The organization is particularly concerned about the damage to crops such as artichokes, potatoes, cauliflower and citrus fruits. Regarding the latter, he said that "there are some patches under up to a meter and a half of water and, although we must see how things develop, those plants will most certainly end up suffocating." In short, Espinosa said that the situation in the province is dramatic, especially considering that the share of vegetable producers with a valid agricultural insurance is still negligible. ASAJA Orihuela One of the most affected towns has been Orihuela, in Alicante. José Vicente Andreu, president of ASAJA in this municipality, explained that agricultural damage is “very important”, especially in the Vega Baja, where the entire vegetable production has been lost. "Artichokes and potatoes, as well as sweet potatoes, had just been planted." There will also be many losses in the citrus sector, as the fields are flooded. COPE Alicante Carlos Cuenca, editor of COPE Alicante, also gave an account of the latest news related to the effects of the storm. Like Espinosa and Andreu, he highlighted the damage suffered in the Vega Baja region, which has been completely flooded. He also said that, at the time of his intervention, more than 1,000 troops had rescued about 600 people in this area, and that there were thousands of evacuees. The flood of the Segura river put the municipalities of Orihuela, Almoradí, Rojales, Granja de Rocamora and Redován in check. Source - https://www.freshplaza.com