A Christmas appeal has been launched in Torre del Mar to help families struggling with the rising cost of living give their children presents this festive season.

The initiative, promoted by the Instagram account Torre del Mar en tu Mano, is asking residents, businesses and companies to come forward with donations and practical support to help make Christmas special for children whose families are finding it difficult to cover the extra costs.

Toys, books and school supplies needed

Organisers are looking for donations of new toys, books, sports equipment and school supplies, including backpacks, pencil cases and arts and crafts materials. Local shops are also being invited to get involved by allowing residents to purchase gifts through their businesses and providing collection or storage points.

Companies and potential sponsors who can offer space to receive, store and distribute presents are being encouraged to contact the organisers. Other forms of support will also be welcomed. Volunteers are needed to help organise the collections and assist with handing out the gifts when the time comes.

Helping children enjoy Christmas

The appeal comes against a backdrop of rising household costs, which have made it harder for some working families to manage the additional expense of the festive period.

In their message, the organisers point out that families who have previously been able to afford Christmas without difficulty may now find themselves having to cut back, juggle their finances or even consider borrowing money to pay for everything.

However, they stress that a child’s excitement about Christmas should not depend on their family’s financial situation. A toy, book or other thoughtful gift can make a real difference to a child, and the initiative hopes to bring the local community together to help make that possible.

How to get involved

Anyone in the Torre del Mar area who would like to volunteer, donate presents or offer business support can contact Torre del Mar en tu Mano through its Instagram account. Further information about the initiative and its arrangements is expected to be shared in the coming weeks.

Residents who are able to contribute are being encouraged to get in touch and help turn the appeal into a community effort, giving more children the chance to experience the excitement of Christmas. This is a good plan for local charities and social groups to start planning for the Christmas season.

Santa Pola’s Museo del Mar is heading towards a record-breaking year after welcoming 133,145 visits so far in 2026. The figure is already closing in on the almost 150,000 visits recorded throughout the whole of last year, with the museum’s network of historic and cultural attractions continuing to draw visitors to the coastal town.

Museo del Mar approaches annual visitor record

Santa Pola’s Museo del Mar is heading towards a record year after attracting 133,145 visits so far in 2026, already approaching the almost 150,000 recorded during the whole of last year.

The museum complex includes its main exhibitions inside the Castillo Fortaleza, covering the history and ethnography of the sea and fishing, music, archaeology and local history.

The castle also hosts a changing programme of national and international art exhibitions, adding to the range of attractions available within the historic building.

Museum network extends beyond Castillo Fortaleza

Several external sites form part of the museum, including the Mediterranean Aquarium, the preserved Esteban Gonzalez fishing boat and Portus Ilicitanus, the Roman port which operates as an open-air museum.

Visits remain free, including guided activities, workshops, concerts and talks.

The combination of permanent exhibitions, archaeological attractions and cultural activities means the Museo del Mar extends well beyond a traditional museum building, with different sites exploring Santa Pola’s history and its close relationship with the Mediterranean.

Aquarium and fishing boat closed for improvements

Two attractions are currently temporarily closed. The Aquarium is undergoing improvements and new museum installations, while the Esteban Gonzalez is receiving major restoration work to its hull.

Both are expected to reopen in December.

Portus Ilicitanus has also experienced temporary closures during archaeological excavations and work to install a protective shaded structure over part of the remains.

La Picola will join museum network in 2027

The museum network is set to expand again in 2027 with the addition of the La Picola archaeological site.

The Iberian and Roman site is being prepared for visitors through a €1.25 million project fully funded by Spain’s Ministry of Industry and Tourism.

Its addition will give visitors another archaeological attraction to explore as part of Santa Pola’s growing museum network, while the strong visitor figures recorded during 2026 put the Museo del Mar within reach of surpassing last year’s total.

Emergency services launched a major search operation in north-eastern Spain after a woman reportedly fell into a rain-swollen stream during torrential downpours, prompting fears she may have been swept away by the powerful current.

The incident happened in Cabrera de Mar, in Barcelona province, on Saturday evening, October 17, as heavy rainfall affected parts of Catalonia.

Firefighters from the Bombers de la Generalitat were mobilised after receiving an emergency alert at 7.41pm reporting that a person had fallen into a riera, a normally smaller watercourse that can become dangerously fast-flowing during periods of intense rain.

Six firefighting units were initially deployed to search for the missing woman, with the operation involving Catalonia’s regional police, the Mossos d’Esquadra, and Spain’s Maritime Rescue service.

The search was continuing in the latest reports, with no confirmed outcome available at the time of publication.

Emergency teams continue to search for missing woman

The operation brought together several emergency services to locate the woman following the reported fall.

The firefighters confirmed the deployment in a post on social media, announcing that crews were working alongside the Mossos d’Esquadra and Salvamento Marítimo.

The involvement of maritime rescue teams highlights the potential danger posed by fast-moving watercourses during severe weather, particularly where a stream flows towards the coast.

The incident occurred in the Maresme area, a coastal region north-east of Barcelona that experienced particularly heavy rainfall on Saturday afternoon and evening. The Vallès Oriental area was also among the parts of Catalonia that recorded significant precipitation during the same period.

Firefighters confirmed on Sunday morning, October 18, that the search had continued throughout the night and into the early hours, but there had been no new developments.

Heavy rain raises concerns across Catalonia

The search operation unfolded as thunderstorms and intense rainfall affected several areas of Catalonia, raising concerns about sudden flooding and dangerous conditions near waterways.

A riera can appear relatively harmless during dry weather but may fill rapidly when heavy rain falls, creating strong currents capable of carrying away people and vehicles.

Such watercourses are a particular hazard during Mediterranean storms, when intense rainfall can fall over a short period and cause water levels to rise quickly. Emergency authorities have repeatedly warned residents to avoid attempting to cross flooded streams, rivers and underpasses during periods of heavy rain. Even shallow-looking water can conceal a strong current, while the depth and speed of the flow may change rapidly as further rain arrives upstream.

Search comes amid severe weather

The incident adds to concerns about the impact of the unsettled weather affecting north-eastern Spain.

The Maresme, where Cabrera de Mar is located, was among the areas experiencing the heaviest rainfall on Saturday, according to reports. Emergency crews faced the challenge of searching in conditions made more difficult by the weather and the possibility of fast-moving water.