Spanish Government To Pay Out Colossal Compensation For Gota Fria Destruction

The true cost of Spain’s devastating gota fria storms is now calculated to total at least €379 million, but claims are still being received.

Spain’s Consorcio de Compensacion de Seguros has released its estimates of householder compensation for the massive damage and destruction caused by this summer’s devastating weather phenomenon known as the gota fria. At present, some 600,000 claims have been received, with more still coming in and expected to raise the total cost to at least €422 million.

Tens of thousands of homes and businesses all across the Costa Blanca region were either totally destroyed or sustained serious damage and loss. Some €6.7 million has been paid out to date, with 332 insurance assessors working round the clock in order to compensate victims and allow them to get on with their lives as quickly as possible. According to insurance experts in the region, the Spanish government awards compensation as per coverage provided by homeowners’ insurance policies, but many of those affected may find they were underinsured for a disaster of this magnitude. Expats as well as well as Spanish nationals can get compensation, although it’s not known as yet how many have been affected.

Meanwhile, expat residents in Spain are being warned about allowing anyone to have access to personal documentation following the arrest of a criminal gang fraudulently buying cars using stolen details. The criminals targeted expat residents in Murcia and Alicante, using their identities to buy and insure the vehicles and later committing a range of traffic violations in the names of their victims.

Local police became involved when one British expat received traffic violation notices citing a car she’d never owned and committed in areas she’d never visited. Police traced the offenders to a repair shop and garage in San Pedro del Pinatar, finding evidence of false documentation and forged signatures. Motoring offences committed included drunk driving, dangerous driving, destroying road signs and driving without a license.