Date Published: 10/09/2025

Lorca makes buses free as Saharan dust pushes air quality to alert level

Measures rolled out to shield residents as PM10 particles spike in city

The city of Lorca is offering free urban transport and parking on ORA-regulated spaces in La Alberca and Los Ángeles, with the town now sitting at air quality alert level 3 due to an influx of Saharan dust. The move aims to help locals while the concentration of PM10 particles in the air remains dangerously high.

PM10 particles are tiny airborne particles with a diameter of 10 micrometres or less—about one-seventh the width of a human hair. These particles can come from dust, smoke, vehicle emissions, and other sources. Because they are small enough to be inhaled deep into the lungs, PM10 can cause or worsen respiratory and heart diseases. Health authorities recommend keeping daily levels below 54 micrograms per cubic metre, but on September 8 the level in Lorca averaged 113.27 micrograms—more than double the safe limit.

According to Lorca’s Environment Councillor, María Hernández, the current pollution surge is due to “air masses of African origin” sweeping over the southeast peninsula. Dust concentrations are expected to fluctuate between 5 and 200 micrograms in the coming days, with both dry and wet dust deposits possible.

In response, the council has activated strict pollution protocols, making city buses and selected parking areas free to discourage private car use. Residents are urged to follow these precautions, especially vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, and those with respiratory or heart conditions:

• Avoid physical exercise and intense outdoor sports

• Use FFP2 or FFP3 masks outdoors and stay indoors in extreme cases

• Control cooling of homes and public buildings to reduce energy consumption

• Share private cars and use public transport where possible

• Use park-and-ride parking on the outskirts of the city

• Drive efficiently, avoiding sudden stops and starts, and limit speed

• Lower heating or air conditioning temperatures in homes and public buildings

• Turn off unnecessary lights and appliances

• Avoid burning stubble and agricultural waste

• Limit long journeys for those with respiratory problems

Adding to monitoring efforts, the Lorca district of Zarcilla de Ramos has joined the regional air quality network with a mobile monitoring unit that will operate until the end of September. This complements the fixed PM10 station already in the municipality and will provide valuable data for health authorities. Hernández thanked the regional government for supporting this initiative, saying it will “help us improve the lives of our residents.”