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Firefighters Save 39-Stone Man In Seven-Hour Rescue Mission In Barcelona

Published

3 days ago

May 25, 2023

firefighters-save-39-stone-man-in-seven-hour-rescue-mission-in-barcelona

A morbidly obese man who had not left his house since the pandemic had to be rescued from his home yesterday after he got into difficulty after a fall.

On Wednesday, May 25, Firefighters were called to the home of Alejandro B, a 48-year-old man who lived trapped in rubbish that had accumulated in the basement of a block of flats in El Prat de Llobregat, Barcelona, according to El Pais.

Police officers were alerted at 8:30 am yesterday after the man suffered a fall. It later emerged that the man had not eaten or drunk for several days, and desperately needed help.

Police reports indicate that he weighed more than 250 kilos (39.3 stones) and that he has not been seen outside his home since the pandemic.

In October last year, the city Council tried to help after concerned neighbours highlighted the situation. Spokesperson Arnau García explained that despite their efforts the man assured them he was fine and would not allow anyone to enter.

It is thought that the man has Diogenes syndrome, in which sufferers become socially isolated, neglect themselves and their surroundings, and display hoarding behaviour.

In an operation lasting seven hours, firefighters gained access through a window with an excavator, where they removed bags, plastics, boxes and other garbage that had piled up.

Finally, at midday, rescuers reached him where he was given oxygen, while emergency services continued work to clear the way for him to be released.

With the aid of a forklift truck, firefighters managed to remove him from the house through the window, at around 3:00 pm.

One of Alejandro B’s neighbours, complained that social services and the police did not do more in the face of a clear case of illness: ‘They spoke on the phone with him and were satisfied when he told them he was fine.’

Before the pandemic, residents explained that Alejandro B went to work at the airport, where he worked as an IT specialist. When the pandemic struck it seems he ventured out again.

Over the years the man had a history of problems that had been dealt with by health and social services until they considered the situation had normalised.

Despite four other alerts from neighbours, it appears that the situation was allowed to deteriorate, until this latest episode when emergency action had to be taken.

Thankfully, Alejandro B was admitted to Bellvitge Hospital, where his condition is described as not serious. Authorities have yet to decide whether the man can return home or will need to be admitted to a social-health centre.

García did explain however that the case exposed a loophole. It had been years since the man picked up his medication from the pharmacy, something that social services were not informed about. ‘It’s something that should have set off alarm bells.’

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Average Price Of Electricity In Spain Increases Substantially On Monday, May 29

Published

2 hours ago

May 28, 2023

Chris King

average-price-of-electricity-in-spain-increases-substantially-on-monday,-may-29

Image of electricity meter. Credit: Jittawit21 / Shutterstock.com

On Monday, May 29, the average price of electricity for regulated rate customers linked to the wholesale market in Spain will fall by 12.79 per cent compared to today, Sunday 28. Specifically, the price will stand at €95.80/MWh.

According to the operator of the Iberian Energy Market (OMIE), in the auction, the cost of energy in the wholesale market – the so-called ‘pool’ – will stand at €95.80/MWh tomorrow.

The minimum price, of €80/MWh, will occur between the hours of 4 pm and 5 pm, while the maximum price will be recorded between 9 pm and 10 pm, at €131.86/MWh.

So far in April, the average price of electricity stands just above €73/MWh, compared to the €185/MWh registered in the same month last year, according to lainformacion.com.

On Tuesday, March 28, Spain’s Council of Ministers approved the extension of the Iberian exception until December 31, after the agreement was reached by Spain and Portugal with the European Commission.

It is not excluded that the deal could be extended for a longer time if the said framework is also extended.

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Elche Receives €97,000 For Its Status As A Tourist Municipality

Published

5 hours ago

May 28, 2023

Anna Ellis

elche-receives-e97,000-for-its-status-as-a-tourist-municipality

Elche receives €97,000 for its status as a Tourist Municipality. Image: Elche City Council.

Elche has received €97,000 from the Cooperation Fund for its status as a Tourist Municipality of the Valencian Community.

Consideration of the recognition of Tourist Municipality grants the right to access specific financing channels, such as this line of the Municipal Cooperation Fund, to compensate the financial effort, motivated by the tourist activity, both in the provision of services and in investment in infrastructures.

To receive the funding, municipalities must have accredited compliance with specific requirements both quantitative and qualitative, referring to the tourist population, tourist accommodation places, kilometres of coastal or continental beach, tourist resources and the importance of tourism in the local economy.

In addition, they assume the commitments included in the Valencian Tourism Code of Ethics as well as their contribution to sustainable and inclusive tourism based on the principle of hospitality.

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Health Alert In Spain For Well Known Supermarket Product Containing Metal Fragments

Published

6 hours ago

May 28, 2023

Chris King

health-alert-in-spain-for-well-known-supermarket-product-containing-metal-fragments

Image of Tofu Spinacia. Credit: aesan.gob.es

AESAN, the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition has issued a new food alert. It has demanded the withdrawal of a well-known tofu sold in supermarkets in Spain.

According to a statement released by the Government agency on Saturday, May 27, the presence of metal fragments has been detected in this product. This has led them to urge the population that has purchased it not to consume it.

⚠️ Alerta por presencia de fragmentos metálicos en Tofu Spinacia.
???? No consumir
▶️ Nombre: Tofu Spinacia
▶️ Marca: Taifun
▶️ Lotes: 254 y 274
???? https://t.co/jAc2VRBQ4x pic.twitter.com/9OS2L9lHT5

— AESAN (@AESAN_gob_es) May 27, 2023

The statement read: “The Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition has learned, through the European Food Alert Network (RASFF), of an alert notification issued by the German health authorities regarding the presence of metal fragments in the Tofu Spinacia product”.

Specifically, the alert relates to the Tofu Spinacia product of the Taifun brand, of 200 grams in weight and sold in plastic packaging. The affected batches have the lot number and expiration dates of ‘254; 06/02/2023’, and ‘274; 06/22/2023’.

According to the information available, the initial distribution was made to the autonomous communities of Andalucia, Aragon, Asturias, the Balearic Islands, Cantabria, Catalonia, Castilla y León, the Valencian Community, Extremadura, Galicia, Madrid and the Basque Country.

It has not been ruled out though that the product could have been redistributed to other autonomous communities.

This information has been transferred to the competent authorities of the autonomous communities through the Coordinated System for Rapid Information Exchange (SCIRI), in order to verify the withdrawal of the affected products from the marketing channels.

People who have products affected by this alert at home are recommended by AESAN to refrain from consuming them.