There’s something truly special about watching the sun set after a long summer’s day, the sky painted in different shades of orange and yellow like a living portrait. Vera Town Hall understands just how precious this can be, and are celebrating accordingly with the “Enchanting Sunset’s” series.

Enchanting Sunsets combine live music and natural beauty

Throughout the summer, the sunset will become the backdrop for several intimate outdoor concerts. Every Tuesday at the Puerto Rey Lagoon, and every Thursday at the Salar de los Canos from 9pm, music will meet the magic of mother nature to create a one-of-a-kind experience.

Now in its third year, the opening Enchanting Sunsets concert took place on Thursday, July 2 and was a huge success. This unique natural setting became the perfect stage for an evening where acoustic music and the beauty of the landscape came together. The concert attracted a large crowd of friends and families, and even grabbed the attention of passers-by who couldn’t help but stop and watch.

A magical sunset experience at Salar de los Canot

Seats quickly filled up, leaving many to stand and sway along to the music. Some attendees took to setting up their own folding chairs so as to ensure they can experience the event comfortably. As the sun slowly disappeared behind the horizon, the atmosphere became even more special, with visitors enjoying the combination of live music, peaceful surroundings and one of Vera’s most valued natural areas.

During the concert, the only time anyone in the audience took out their phone was to snap a quick picture of the setting sun. Otherwise, all in attendance were completely immersed in the experience that so seamlessly blended beautiful music and scenic views.

Puerto Rey Lagoon hosts another unforgettable evening

The second concert in the series continued the success of the first, bringing the same special connection between music and nature to the Puerto Rey Lagoon. Attendees enjoyed a magnificent performance from Diego Haro, Kevin Hinojosa and Luis Suria, creating the perfect soundtrack for one of the most beautiful moments of the day.

Many who attended the opening concerts described the “Enchanting Sunset’s” series as their favourite event of the summer, and many more vowed to return to as many as they could from now until August.

More than a spectacular live-music and a breath-taking view, the Enchanting Sunsets concerts reminds residents and visitors alike to pause and appreciate something as simple as a sun set.

Residents in Almeria Province are still coming to terms with the wildfire that hit Los Gallardos and Bedar. While teams continue working on the ground and in the air, many people have been speaking openly about how they are getting through the situation and what support is needed.

How people are coping

Alison, who lives near the affected zone, said they had been ready to leave if the situation worsened. “It came within a couple of kilometres of us. We were packed up and ready to evacuate if necessary. Miraflores campsite was evacuated because of the smoke!” She mentioned that helicopters and planes were still active from early in the morning, dropping water on the remaining hotspots.

Wendy, who runs deliveries in the Turre area, explained the tough conditions that helped the fire move so fast. She said the extreme heat, combined with months without rain and strong winds of around 50 km/h, had left everything extremely dry. She added that these were natural events that had to be faced, while expressing sadness over the loss of life and praising the firefighters who were working in difficult heat to protect people.

Evacuations and looking out for each other

Several sites took action as soon as smoke levels rose. Staff at Miraflores at Los Gallardos Leisure said the resort was cleared as a precaution. They thanked the authorities and their own team for keeping things calm and organised. They also let people know that the Los Gallardos cultural centre was available as a place to go if anyone needed shelter.

Most local businesses chose to stay closed for the day. Owners said they wanted to pause and remember those who had lost their lives, as well as the people still missing. They encouraged everyone to follow official guidance and look after themselves.

Language barriers adding to the worry

Many people in the Bedar area are said to be elderly British expats, and several residents have raised concerns about how difficult the situation has been for them. Bianca Bouriah pointed out that a lot of older British people were extremely frightened and struggled to understand the updates because they were only available in Spanish. She asked whether important instructions could be shared in both languages during emergencies.

Ysabel Nuñez said it was especially difficult given that so many of those caught up in the fire were British. She felt more effort should have been made to make information accessible.

Community help and support coming together

Local radio stations have been working with Cruz Roja to work out the best way to help families in the Los Gallardos and Bedar area. They plan to collect cash donations and are waiting for clear advice on what items are most needed before asking people to bring anything.

Families still searching for answers

Some people are still anxiously waiting for news. Danielle Gillam-Kirton has been trying to contact her parents, Pete and Fran Gillam, who live in Bedar. Her mum sent a message yesterday evening saying they were leaving, but there has been no further contact. She believes they may have gone towards Lubrin or Los Gallardos and is asking anyone who has seen them to get in touch.

Molly Jay was desperately trying to find her aunt who lives in Los Burgos. Luckily, someone on the Wildfire Watch social media commented that she had been seen being evacuated. Such is the situation with many mobile phone towers out of action due to the fire.

As we reported earlier, the fire has had a deep impact on communities across the province. In these difficult hours, many locals have shown real strength by supporting each other and staying calm. Our thoughts remain with everyone in Los Gallardos, Bedar and the surrounding villages. Many are still missing and the final death toll is expected to rise throughout the day. Euro Weekly News wishes to convey that our hearts are with the residents affected by this terrible tragedy, and look forward to hearing from you all as soon as possible.

Please comment below if you or someone you know has been affected by the fire.

Residents of Huércal-Overa have demonstrated the true meaning of community spirit after coming together to collect more than a tonne of emergency aid for people affected by the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela in late June.

In an inspiring show of generosity, local volunteers, businesses and organisations rallied behind a humanitarian campaign that saw essential supplies gathered in just two days. Thanks to the overwhelming response, the Civil Protection headquarters quickly filled with donations destined for those facing hardship thousands of miles away.

Community response to Venezuela earthquake relief appeal

The donation drive was organised by Huércal-Overa residents with close personal and family ties to Venezuela, who wanted to provide practical support to communities affected by the disaster.

With logistical assistance from Huércal-Overa Town Council, organisers launched an urgent appeal asking neighbours to contribute essential items. Although the collection was only scheduled to run from Wednesday 1 to Thursday 2, the response far exceeded expectations.

From the moment collection points opened, residents arrived carrying bags and boxes filled with much-needed supplies. The campaign rapidly gained momentum, highlighting the generosity and compassion of the local community.

Businesses and neighbouring towns join the humanitarian effort

Support extended well beyond Huércal-Overa itself. Local businesses, pharmacies, associations and individual residents all played their part by donating goods or helping to spread awareness of the appeal.

People from neighbouring towns and villages also answered the call. In several municipalities, residents independently organised additional collection points before transporting donations to Huércal-Overa, ensuring even more aid reached the central distribution hub.

This collaborative effort allowed organisers to gather a remarkable quantity of supplies in an exceptionally short period of time.

Essential supplies collected for families in need

Organisers asked donors to focus on items that could provide immediate relief to those affected by the earthquakes.

Among the most urgently needed donations were medicines, hygiene products, baby formula, nappies, non-perishable essentials and suitable clothing. These supplies are expected to provide much-needed support to families who have lost homes, access to healthcare or basic necessities following the disaster.

Every contribution, whether large or small, helped build what became more than one ton of humanitarian aid.

Donations prepared for the journey to Venezuela

With the collection complete, volunteers are now sorting and organising the donations into cargo ready for shipment across the Atlantic. Although the logistical challenge of transporting aid nearly 4,000 miles is considerable, the generosity shown by the people of Huércal-Overa has made the effort worthwhile.

The campaign serves as a reminder that compassion knows no borders. Despite the vast distance separating southern Spain from Venezuela, the people of Huércal-Overa proved that communities can make a meaningful difference when they come together in times of crisis.

Their swift response has not only delivered practical support to those in need but has also sent a powerful message of solidarity, offering hope to families facing an incredibly difficult period in the aftermath of the earthquakes.