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Expats who lost homes during Marbella blaze still awaiting compensation
| Published: | 21 Aug at 6 PM |
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Expat victims of the devastating fire which razed part of Marbella and Mijas in 2012 are still waiting for compensation from the Spanish authorities.
Although the region is finally returning to its full glory after three years, victims who lost their homes and possessions during the massive blaze are still waiting for the promised €14,500 emergency compensation intended to allow them to get on with their lives. The vast majority have not yet received any payments and are living in limbo.
One UK expat, a resident in the area for 13 years who was recently forced to return to the UK, told local media that she had lost everything to the flames. She stated she had been offered no help although she had been paying taxes in Spain since she first arrived.
She was one of 4,000 residents evacuated from a small town after the blaze jumped from Cerro Alaminos in late August 2012, devastating four nearby conurbations. High winds, searing heat and the driest winter since 1942 caused the destruction of over 400 homes and 8,200 hectares of agricultural land and forest.
Thousands of expats donated money, food, clothes and goods to the victims, and the local English language newspaper supported help and compensation claims, all to no avail. Victims have appealed to the local authority and the government with no success, and were told by the Spanish social security office that it did not help the homeless.
Although the region is finally returning to its full glory after three years, victims who lost their homes and possessions during the massive blaze are still waiting for the promised €14,500 emergency compensation intended to allow them to get on with their lives. The vast majority have not yet received any payments and are living in limbo.
One UK expat, a resident in the area for 13 years who was recently forced to return to the UK, told local media that she had lost everything to the flames. She stated she had been offered no help although she had been paying taxes in Spain since she first arrived.
She was one of 4,000 residents evacuated from a small town after the blaze jumped from Cerro Alaminos in late August 2012, devastating four nearby conurbations. High winds, searing heat and the driest winter since 1942 caused the destruction of over 400 homes and 8,200 hectares of agricultural land and forest.
Thousands of expats donated money, food, clothes and goods to the victims, and the local English language newspaper supported help and compensation claims, all to no avail. Victims have appealed to the local authority and the government with no success, and were told by the Spanish social security office that it did not help the homeless.
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