Podcast Summary: Más de uno – "Los vecinos de Grazalema cumplen una semana desalojados: 'Estamos en el éxodo todavía, pero con esperanza'"
Host: Carlos Alsina (OndaCero)
Guest: Paqui Viruez, directora de la radio municipal de Grazalema
Date: February 13, 2026
Episode Theme:
This episode revisits the ongoing forced evacuation of Grazalema’s residents due to severe weather and flood risks. Carlos Alsina checks in with Paqui Viruez, offering an intimate look at community resilience, the role of local radio, and the realities of living displaced—still "in exodus"—one week after leaving home.
1. Overview of the Crisis: Grazalema Evacuated for Over a Week
- [00:00] Carlos Alsina introduces the situation in Grazalema, reminding listeners that the entire village remains evacuated due to flooding risks from the recent storms.
- Recognizes the ongoing ordeal: Not just a one-day emergency, but a sustained displacement with no clear end date yet.
- Reintroduces Paqui Viruez, head of the local radio, herself unable to return.
Quote:
"No quiero que nos olvidemos de ello, ni de ello ni de ellos."
—Carlos Alsina [00:21]
2. Daily Life in Displacement: Staying Informed and Connected
-
[00:45] Paqui reports from exile, sharing that she and her colleagues are scattered—she is currently staying in Ubrique.
Quote:
"Estamos en el éxodo todavía. Todavía, pero con esperanza de que muy prontito podamos volver a hacer radio en casa."
—Paqui Viruez [00:45] -
Carlos marks World Radio Day, congratulating Paqui and her listeners.
-
[01:32] Communication lifelines: The Grazalema radio team divides responsibilities; Fran Moreno is stationed in Ronda (information hub), while Paqui maintains updates through social media.
-
Local radio has migrated to the digital realm, becoming the key connector for the community in exile.
Quote:
"Precisamente en redes es donde tenemos ahora instalada radio en estos días. Y por aquí nos está siguiendo todo el mundo pendiente, muy pendiente de lo que pasa con Grazalema y con todos los grazalemeños."
—Paqui Viruez [01:47]
3. Uncertainty and Hope: Waiting for Permission to Return
- [02:10] Carlos asks if there’s any news about returning home, noting that heavy rain is forecasted yet again.
- [02:41] Paqui describes ongoing weather alerts (today at orange level), their weariness with constant rain, but praises local and national coordination.
- There’s transparency from authorities, continual technical monitoring, but still no set date for return.
Quote:
"Hay que esperar porque los trabajos están hechos. De momento la situación no ha empeorado, los técnicos están controlando la situación y nuestro deseo es que muy prontito podamos volver a casa."
—Paqui Viruez [02:52]
- Notes recent meetings between mayors, scientists, and officials, suggesting cautious optimism but no confirmations yet.
4. The Role of Local Radio: A Lifeline in Crisis
- [03:44] Carlos voices hope for the community and especially for Paqui’s return to her familiar station.
- [03:53] Paqui expresses her personal longing and the community’s emotional connection to local radio, calling it an irreplaceable, even addictive, medium.
Quote:
"La radio forever, por encima de cualquier otro medio y que la necesitamos, eso es una droga muy necesaria en estos tiempos."
—Paqui Viruez [03:58]
- Emphasizes how essential radio has been for Grazalema’s displaced residents, both to stay informed and to feel less alone.
5. Notable Moments and Closing Thoughts
- The episode combines up-to-the-minute updates with heartfelt testimony.
- The tone oscillates between gentle humor, professional dedication, and heartfelt solidarity—mirroring radio’s unique capacity to connect and comfort in crisis.
Memorable Interactions:
- The camaraderie and empathy between Carlos and Paqui, sharing not only the facts but real emotional encouragement.
- A sense of collective hope: expecting soon, though not yet, to “return home”—not just to a village, but to community life, with radio as a heart.
Key Timestamps:
- 00:00: Introduction of the crisis and guest
- 00:45: Paqui's update and sentiment of "still in exile"
- 01:32: How they are keeping the community informed (via social media)
- 02:41: Status of the evacuation, technical updates, cautious optimism
- 03:53: Paqui's reflections on the power and necessity of local radio
Summary Takeaway
This episode offers a moving snapshot of a community in suspension—still exiled, but nurturing hope. The transformation of local radio into a digital lifeline keeps Grazalema’s heart beating even while its people remain dispersed. For those unfamiliar with the crisis, the conversation delivers a vivid sense of place, challenge, and unbreakable communal ties.
