The Region of Murcia has presented the first Regional Strategy to combat loneliness in its older residents, with the implementation of a 24-hour help line that provides support and intervention. The help line, 065, is managed by the Telephone of Hope, a non-profit organisation that has been operating in the region for nearly 50 years.

Emotional support for the Region’s elderly residents

The aim of the help line is to offer listening, emotional support, and accompaniment for older residents of the region. Additionally, the help line has been put into place to detect possible risk situations involving the residents.

The plan detailed in the Regional Strategy includes the creation of local committees in all municipalities of the region, involving social services, health centres, senior centres, and shops and pharmacies, in order to effectively activate alert signals for possible cases of isolation.

The strategy has been outlined following a period of careful and thorough research. Data extracted from the investigation has shown that one in five people over the age of 65 admit to feeling lonely, a situation that can worsen with age, health problems, or the loss of a friend or loved one.

To be developed between 2026 and 2030, this strategy is estimated to benefit more than 50,000 elderly people in the Region of Murcia, and improve the coordination and organisation of existing resources.

What is Telephone of Hope?

Teléfono de la esperanza, or Telephone of Hope, is a non-profit organisation that has been operating in the Region of Murcia for an astounding 47 years. According to the organisation’s official website, the group aims to “provide mental health care to all those who need it or who are experiencing any kind of psychological conflict or problem, through telephone or in-person sessions.” Its facilities offer both individual and group support on a variety of topics and concerns. The organisation also offers various courses, workshops, and support groups led by professionals trained in different specialties, “equipping people with resources they can use in their daily lives.”

The Region of Murcia has once more showcased its prowess as an ideal filming location, as an audiovisual production released a casting call for extras for a new shoot taking place in April. The casting agency of the major audiovisual production, Modfie, specified that the series requires people of African and Arab origin, as well as children.

Residents can look out for a new filming in Murcia from mid-April to mid-May

The shoot will take place in Murcia from Monday, April 20 to Thursday, May 14. The series, a large-scale production, will also be filming in different locations across Spain, including in Almeria on April 17 and in Barcelona from May 18 to June 5.

This is far from the only production choosing Murcia as a filming location; the Region has been popular with audiovisual projects for some time, due to its variety of natural environments and the cost-effectiveness of filming licences in Murcia.

Big-name projects frequently choose Murcia

Another series, Movistar Plus+’s Secuestro, also began filming in Murcia on Thursday, April 7. The series is headed by director Marcel Barrena, a Barcelona-born filmmaker who achieved the Goya Award for Best Film for El 47.

The most recent big-name project, which wrapped in January 2026, was El Desvío, a movie that was filmed entirely in various municipalities in Murcia. El Desvío stars Javier Pereira, who shares the lead role with Roberto Álamo and Guillermo Campra.

The Region of Murcia, star-studded in 2025

Additionally, 2025 saw an impressive list of cinematic projects taking place in the Region of Murcia. Famed actor Norman Reedus was spotted in the Port of Escombreras in Cartagena where the final scenes of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon were filmed; likewise, the centre of Murcia was transformed into a street in Budapest for the filming of the Hollywood blockbuster FAST, an action thriller created by Taylor Sheridan for Warner Bros Pictures and starring Brandon Sklenar.

Charming local municipalities in the spotlight

Cartagena, San Javier, Mazarron, Puerto de Mazarron, La Manga, the Calblanque Regional Park, Playa Honda and Los Belones have also been some noteworthy filming locations, hosting shoots for various big-name projects including Movistar series El Inmortal, Netflix miniseries Toda la verdad sobre mis mentiras, and the music video for Tuchat by Spanish singer and rapper Quevedo.

Murcia residents interested in participating as extras in big-name projects are often in luck, as casting agencies frequently release casting calls in the Region as Murcia becomes more and more popular with audiovisual projects by the year.

Emergency services in the Region of Murcia acted quickly and managed to rescue an injured hiker in the Sierra Espuña, a popular mountain range and regional park located in the municipality of Totana. The hiker, a 52-year-old man, had suffered a fall that caused a knee injury.

A 112 call about an injured hiker in a popular Murcia mountain range

The incident occurred at 8:21am on the morning of Saturday, April 11. The Emergency Coordination Centre received a 112 call from the hiker himself, who alerted them about his fall and told them he was no longer able to walk. He alerted Emergency Services to his location, but the area was difficult to access, according to an environmental agent who was deployed to the site.

In order to rescue the hiker, the General Directorate of Citizen Security and Emergencies deployed a helicopter from the Air Rescue Group of the Fire and Rescue Consortium.

The hiker was successfully evacuated by air and immediately taken to the Virgen de la Arrixaca University Clinical Hospital, where he was attended to and given treatment. The quick rescue and treatment of the injured man is yet another example of Murcia’s emergency responders giving their all to ensure residents’ safety above all else.

The Sierra Espuña: A hidden gem, more popular by the day

The Sierra Espuña Regional Park is a popular location for hiking, day trips, picnics, and educational workshops. The park, considered one of Spain’s hidden gems, has recently seen a surge in visitor numbers, as reported through the Visitor Information and Assistance Services in Murcia.

The Tour of the Region of Murcia, one of the region’s most anticipated sporting events, also saw cyclists pass through the Sierra Espuña in mid-February of this year. It is a popular area not only because of its viability as a hiking and cycling hotspot, but for its acclaimed natural beauty.

How to prevent and respond to accidents while hiking in Murcia’s mountains

However, hikers, cyclists and other visitors to the park should be aware of what to do in the case of accidents. When going out for a hike in the Sierra Espuña or another beautiful area of Spain, it is advised to follow these rules:

• Always let a friend, family member, or neighbour know your whereabouts before setting out.
• Try to limit sports activities to the daytime, when emergency services would be able to spot you easily if you were lost or injured.
• Always carry a charged phone or a portable charger with you. Preferably, have GPS location available on your phone.
• When hiking, remember to stay hydrated and keep snacks on hand.
• If lost or injured, call 112 Emergency Services and give them your information to the best of your ability.