in Spain, Catalan beaches and promenades swallowed up by rising waters

Global warming is causing a rise in water levels which is gradually eating away at the Spanish coastline. The authorities are trying to rebuild the damaged beaches, without convincing local residents or environmental specialists.

The Minister of the Environment Christophe Béchu unveiled on Friday April 5 the list of 500 municipalities in France threatened by rising water levels. But the problem also arises among our neighbors in Spain where the sea is devouring the Catalan coastline. A few days ago, a storm seriously damaged the beaches of Barcelona and the Costa Brava.

Ten kilometers north of Barcelona, ​​Montgat beach has disappeared, immense waves have washed away all the sand, the showers have not resisted. Construction barriers were hastily installed to prevent passers-by from approaching. Under a radiant sun, a few days after the storm, Juan, a retiree, can only see the damage.

“The beach is over here.”

Juan, a retiree

at franceinfo

“It’s sad, it’s especially sad for people like us, continues Juan. We’ve been coming here every day since we were kids. It’s dramatic. Usually every summer there are beach restaurants here. This summer, there will be nothing.”

Coastal housing soon to be uninhabitable

On the Costa Brava, entire promenades have been swallowed up. In Barcelona, ​​the beach has lost half its surface area. This is not the first time this has happened, but this storm comes at the worst time, at the start of the tourist season. And then, this is added to the drought which could prevent hotels from filling their swimming pools this summer. The authorities will do everything to restore the beaches but for Jordi, owner of a sailing school, this will not be of much use. “Yes, they put bandages, he comments. Sometimes we saw that they brought sand. They will pick it up in the next port and drop it off here. But every year it starts again just as quickly. I don’t know, I’m not convinced.”

The man no longer really has any illusions: soon, he will have to move or close his school. Without a beach, it is impossible to store your sailboats. The sea is eating away at the coastline. Within 15 years, almost half of the region’s beaches will no longer be large enough to accommodate the public, according to researcher Carles Ibanez.

“The water level is rising by 4 millimeters per year, around the world and here too. It’s enormous! And it’s accelerating: it will soon be one centimeter each year.”

Carles Ibanez, researcher

at franceinfo

“We could reach one meter by the end of the century. And that’s not going to get better. The sea level will continue to rise. So much so that I describe it all as a tsunami in slow motion,” image the researcher.

60% of the Catalan coastline is built. Housing by the sea will soon be uninhabitable. The railway line which runs along the coast from Barcelona will undoubtedly have to be moved inland.