Village saved from landslide danger

WORK on a €365,000 plan to save the village of El Chorro from the ever present danger of landslides has started.

Costs will be paid by energy company Endesa after negotiations with the Andalucian Government, managers and owners of the Tajo de la Encantada water reservoir located alongside El Chorro (Alora).

The works, which have already started, consist of building a 22 metre-deep concrete wall with moorings. This should stabilise the land between the village and the reservoir.  Estimated deadline for finishing the wall is three months, according to Alora Mayor Jose Sanchez.

According to a geological study commissioned by Alora’s town hall, continually rising and lowering water levels at the reservoir whenever energy was generated by the hydroelectric power station, was destabilising the ground and producing landslides.

The first damage to El Chorro houses was reported by residents three years ago. Since then the situation has got worse and those living closer to the reservoir feared their homes could eventually be flooded.  As a consequence, four families had to evacuate as their homes were in serious risk of falling apart, the El Chorro association of residents reported.

“This is the best Christmas present we could get, but we are still afraid as we have nowhere to go if we have to move away during the works,” association president Maite Rengel said.