The Socialist Party (PSOE) in Torrevieja has submitted a formal motion calling for official acts to honour the memory of local victims of the 1938 fascist bombing during the Spanish Civil War. The proposal, led by municipal spokesperson Bárbara Soler, will be presented at the next plenary session of the City Council.
On 25 August 1938, Torrevieja was attacked by Italian fascist aircraft allied with General Francisco Franco. The bombing claimed the lives of 19 residents—many of them children and infants—and left dozens more injured. Most victims had been queuing to buy fish at the time of the strike.
Soler highlighted the disparity in how institutions commemorate civilian victims of the war. She pointed to the city of Alicante, where the Italian bombing of the central market resulted in over 300 deaths. There, annual commemorations are held under the leadership of a mayor from the same political party as Torrevieja’s. In contrast, Torrevieja has not seen institutional tributes since the 2015–2019 term, when a progressive coalition was in office.
Since then, remembrance has been limited to events organised by local parties and historical memory associations—without the participation of the municipal government. The PSOE argues that in today’s climate of growing detachment from democratic values, it is more important than ever to recognise events that shaped the city’s modern history and to ensure they are not forgotten.
Soler also acknowledged the consistent work of community groups that have kept the memory alive over the years, despite differing political ideologies, all united in a shared goal: to honour the victims of that tragic day.
The PSOE motion proposes the following actions:
- Officially designate 25 August as a municipal remembrance day in honour of the victims of the 1938 bombing.
- Hold a public act with full council participation, including the reading of a statement, a five-minute silence, and a floral tribute at a designated site.
- Install a commemorative monolith at Torrevieja’s port listing the names of those who lost their lives.
- Include the victims’ names in future decisions on naming new streets in the city.
The motion seeks not only to restore historical memory but to ensure that Torrevieja offers institutional recognition to a chapter of its past that remains painfully under-recognised.
