AND HERE IS THE NEWS…

….a quick glance at the latest local news with Caroline Manson

Record-breaking temperatures recorded

As the heatwave continues it will come as no surprise to read that temperatures have exceeded long-standing records.  It is not just the daytime temperatures (over 40° recorded in several towns across the department) but the fact that the nights bring no respite from the heat.  Perpignan experienced its second hottest night since records began with 34° at midnight, dropping to a ‘low’ of 29° at dawn.  Sunday 17th is due to be the hottest day and with the added problem of strong winds thrown into the mix everyone is extremely concerned about the risk of fire.  In five sectors of the department (Corbières, Fenouillèdes, Aspres, Roussillon and Albères) many roads in the massifs are closed and hiking is prohibited.  Luckily I haven’t felt the urge to go hiking in 40° of heat.

Youths throw Molotov cocktail into vegetation

Late on Tuesday night witnesses saw something on fire being thrown from a vehicle into vegetation at the side of the road between Saint-André and Saint-Génis-des-Fontaines.  A police patrol car arrived on the scene within minutes and managed to recover the missile (which turned out to be a bottle filled with flammable liquid and stuffed with fabric – known as a Molotov cocktail) and extinguish it before the fire could spread into the vegetation.  In less than two weeks their investigations resulted in the arrest of three youths, one being a minor, who were placed into police custody pending trial.

Rescue vehicle hit by car

Early on Wednesday morning there was a collision between two cars on the RD914 (Argeles to Perpignan road) between the Theza and Saleilles exits.  Surprisingly the first car drove off in a hurry but in the second car the 22 year old driver was slightly injured and required treatment.  Emergency vehicles arrived to help the injured driver, together with a traffic truck called out to help with the road closure.  Luckily the driver was out of his vehicle and placing traffic cones when suddenly a third car arrived at high speed and ploughed head on into the traffic truck.  The driver of this third car was badly injured and transported to Perpignan Hospital, and once recovered he will face a serious investigation into his driving.

Gendarmes advise of new scam

Apparently there is a telephone based scam doing the rounds in the department at the moment involving bank cards.  An ‘advisor’ from your bank will call you claiming that there has been fraudulent activity on your account and that you must cut your bank card in two (keeping the chip intact) and that they will send a courier to collect it.  Obviously it is a fake courier and your account will be emptied pretty soon after they drive off with your card.  The gendarmes point out that the telephone number can appear to be that of your bank but given the fact that they also ask for your pin number it seems surprising that so many people have allegedly fallen for this scam.  We are advised to ‘stay vigilant’.

Cyanobacteria alert for the River Tech

Tests on the water of the Tech River at the level of Elne bridge have proved positive for the presence of cyanobacteria.  This bacteria produces toxins that are dangerous for humans, especially young children, and also animals.  However tempting the water might be we are advised to avoid swimming, paddling, letting your dogs cool off, but also to avoid contact with the sticks and pebbles which may have been in the water.  It is not always easy to spot the signs of this bacteria – sometimes it is in the form of submerged biofilms with a slippery consistency and sometimes it can be clusters of flakes with a viscous appearance and dark colour – so if in doubt, avoid the water.

Drug smuggler caught for stupid error

The Catalan police spotted a truck driver using his mobile phone while driving on the AP7 motorway near Figuères.  They flagged him down and demanded his documents, and at the same time decided to carry out a full-scale check on the contents of his lorry.  At first glance he appeared to be transporting boxes of fruit but, with the aid of the sniffer dog, they soon discovered another box containing 196kg of cocaine, 202kg of hashish and 10kg of cannabis.  The 42 year old driver was arrested.

And ‘almost’ finally……

Tourist season brings high restaurant prices and perhaps none more so than in Cannes; a couple of American tourists were just about to tuck into an 86€ steak when suddenly a seagull landed on the table, grabbed the steak and flew off with it.  Luckily the couple just happened to be videoing their eating experience and the video has since gone viral on the social networks.

And finally ….

Not entirely sure whether I should relate this story as it is not entirely ‘woke’ to find it amusing but here goes.  A man has appeared in Perpignan Court this week charged with sexually assaulting 9 women.  His modus operandi was to drive around the streets on an electric scooter, approach the women from behind then smack their bottoms before driving off at high speed.  He was sentenced to one year in prison.