The Ontinyent City Council has activated CECOPAL and will restrict traffic in the areas of Sant Esteve and Santa Anna during this Wednesday's eclipse, which will result in a 99% obscuration.
This morning, the Ontinyent City Council activated CECOPAL to coordinate safety during the solar eclipse on Wednesday, August 12, in anticipation of increased travel and potential crowding at various points in the city. Following the guidelines from the Generalitat Valenciana and requests from Sant Esteve, it has been agreed to restrict access with motor vehicles to the areas of Sant Esteve, at the height of San Jacinto, and Santa Anna, two elevated points where a higher influx of the public is expected.
The acting mayor, Natàlia Enguix, appeared alongside councillors Óscar Borrell, Jordi Vallés, and Àlex Borrell. Enguix explained that CECOPAL has established "a special device coordinated with the National Police and the Civil Guard," with increased presence of the Local Police at the access points to Sant Esteve and Santa Anna. The aim is to "prevent people from putting themselves in danger if there are crowds" and to avoid a mass of vehicles in areas that are difficult to access.
The City Council recommends that the public avoid unnecessary travel and, whenever possible, observe the eclipse from locations close to their homes, such as terraces, houses, or field huts. The eclipse will cause approximately 40 minutes of partial darkness, with an obscuration close to 99%, so it is requested that during this period people remain in the chosen location to observe it and avoid moving around.
If attending other points in the city, the City Council asks to avoid forested or difficult-to-access areas and, if deciding to go to one of the higher points, to do so preferably on foot, with enough time and bringing water. "What we want above all is to avoid a mass of vehicles, and that is why we have closed access to the two highest areas where we think there may be a greater concentration of people," the acting mayor explained.
As an alternative, the Youth Department has organised a special activity in the Benarrai park, in the dome area, for which around 150 young people have pre-registered. Participants will have approved glasses for solar observation, thanks to the collaboration of Óptima Salud and the glasses provided by the Valencia Provincial Council.
The activity will feature participation from Rosana Moriana, a professor at the University of Valencia, and Raquel Vela from Óptima Salud, who will accompany attendees during the observation. The Youth Councillor, Àlex Borrell, highlighted that "we will be able to view the eclipse from the dome area of Benarrai and will also have musical accompaniment," in a proposal designed for young people to "fully enjoy this historic event."
Among the recommendations conveyed to the public is the need to use exclusively approved glasses to observe the Sun directly, as well as to use mobile phones responsibly. It is advised to avoid live broadcasts, streaming, or continuous video sending during peak times, and to prioritise messaging over calls.
The City Council will publish a municipal decree with the measures agreed upon in CECOPAL and the main recommendations, which will also be disseminated through municipal social media and media outlets. Natàlia Enguix finally wanted to convey "a message of calm" to the public: "everything is planned and organised by the Ontinyent City Council. We want people to enjoy the eclipse calmly and safely, avoiding unnecessary travel and following the recommendations."
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