Residents across Spain’s Costa Blanca have been reassured that their drinking water supply is guaranteed after a major fire damaged critical electrical infrastructure serving the Marina Baja, with engineers now working on replacement options.

The incident occurred at around 1.45am on Monday, October 12, at the Algar electrical substation, where a 10-megawatt transformer caught fire. The blaze also damaged nearby installations, leaving authorities assessing the full extent of the material damage and its potential consequences for the region.

The Marina Baixa Water Consortium has confirmed that supplies remain guaranteed despite the incident, offering reassurance to municipalities and residents who depend on the system for their drinking water.

Five-day shutdown considered for replacement

The consortium is exploring several ways to replace the damaged transformer as quickly as possible, with the fastest option involving the installation of an equivalent unit already held in reserve.

However, replacing the equipment will not be straightforward. Engineers must carry out specialist connection work and replace damaged cables and other affected components before the replacement can be brought into operation.

The consortium estimates that this option would require a minimum shutdown period of five days.

The transformer is a substantial piece of equipment, meaning the replacement process requires specialist work rather than a simple swap.

Officials are working to minimise the time needed to restore the damaged infrastructure while maintaining reassurance over the region’s water supply.

Longer repair option also underway

A second option involves repairing or replacing the existing transformer, although this route is expected to take considerably longer.

The consortium estimates that resolving the situation through this alternative would require at least two months. Work on this option is already progressing in parallel, allowing the organisation to pursue different solutions while assessing the best way forward.

The damage is considered significant, and its wider implications for the Marina Baja are still being evaluated.

Residents receive reassurance

Despite the scale of the incident, no personal injuries have been reported.

The consortium has stressed that drinking water supplies to the municipalities connected to the system remain guaranteed, seeking to prevent unnecessary concern among residents following the overnight fire.

The immediate priority is to determine the most effective way to replace the damaged equipment and restore the electrical infrastructure as quickly as possible.

Further work will depend on the technical requirements of the replacement and the extent of the damage identified during inspections.

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Calpe is offering people living with serious mental health difficulties practical tools to manage stress, improve emotional wellbeing and build greater independence through a new series of therapeutic workshops running until December.

The town council has launched the programme through its municipal Service for the Care and Monitoring of People with Serious Mental Health Problems (SASEM). The initiative is designed to help participants cope with everyday challenges that can trigger stress and potentially worsen existing mental health conditions.

The sessions begin on Wednesday, October 14, and will run until December 16, with activities taking place at the Spanish Red Cross premises in Calpe.

Freeing people from the pressure of everyday stress

The programme, called Control of Stress, aims to equip participants with personal skills they can use to respond more effectively to difficult situations in their daily lives.

Rather than focusing on a single technique, the workshops will explore several aspects of stress management, giving participants a range of approaches to help them recognise and respond to emotional pressure.

The sessions will be led by the psychologist working with Calpe council’s SASEM service and hosted at the Red Cross facilities at Calle María Jorro, number 1.

Five modules covering practical techniques

The programme consists of ten sessions divided into five modules, each addressing a different aspect of stress management.

The first session will introduce the concept of stress, helping participants understand what it is and how it can affect their lives.

Two further sessions will focus on deactivation techniques, intended to help people reduce tension and manage their responses to stressful situations.

The largest section of the programme will consist of four sessions dedicated to cognitive techniques. These will be followed by two sessions exploring assertiveness, which can help people communicate their needs and respond to challenging interactions.

The final session will concentrate on time management, offering another practical approach to reducing the pressures associated with everyday responsibilities.

Together, the five modules are intended to strengthen participants’ personal resources while supporting their autonomy and social inclusion.

When and where will the workshops take place?

All ten sessions are scheduled for Wednesdays between October 14 and December 16, running from 10.30am to 11.30am.

The workshops will be held at the Red Cross premises on Calle María Jorro, number 1, in Calpe.

The programme forms part of the town council’s wider support for people experiencing serious mental health difficulties, combining therapeutic guidance with practical skills that can be applied outside the sessions.

By focusing on stress management, cognitive strategies, assertiveness and time organisation, the initiative aims to help participants navigate everyday challenges with greater confidence and support their emotional wellbeing.