The hailstorms that took place on Monday and Sunday in the provinces of Valencia and Castellón have caused losses to growers amounting to 13.5 million Euro. The district of La Ribera was the most affected, with about 12 million Euro, not taking into account the losses in harvesting and storage wages, transportation, etc.
The estimate of the hectares affected in La Ribera is on the rise after verifying the magnitude of the storm, which damaged more than 2,400 hectares of crops, mainly khaki and citrus, but also pomegranate and some vegetables. However, the most affected municipality is Vilanova de Castelló, where 60% of its plantations, about 1,300 hectares, mostly khaki and citrus, have been damaged.
Likewise, the storm struck a strip of about 650 hectares of crops in the district of Camp de Morvedre, where citrus is cultivated, mainly in the municipality of Benifairó de les Valls.
La Unió (the growers' association) considers it urgent for the Government (both regional and central) to take into account the disaster and aid those affected, as the hail losses add to those caused by drought in recent months.
