The government delegate presents the special security device of August 12 on the occasion of the solar eclipse

Toledo.- The delegate of the Government of Spain in Castilla-La Mancha, José Pablo Sabrido, today presented the special security device designed to ensure the normal development of the solar eclipse on August 12, an astronomical event of exceptional character that will place the provinces of Guadalajara and Cuenca among the best places in Spain for observation and that will attract thousands of visitors.

Accompanied by the Subdelegate of the Government in Guadalajara, Susana Cabellos, and by the Subdelegate of the Government in Cuenca, Mari Luz Fernández, Sabrido explained that the operation is the result of an intense work of planning and coordination between all the administrations and agencies involved, with the objective that the day passes with the maximum guarantees of security.

"We want August 12 to be a day to enjoy a unique phenomenon, but also a safe day. The anticipation, coordination and responsibility of all are fundamental for this event to be an extraordinary experience that we are going to be able to contemplate from Castilla-La Mancha ", said the government delegate.

Advance planning

José Pablo Sabrido recalled that the preparation of the device began months ago with the holding of Local Security Boards in different municipalities of Guadalajara and Cuenca, presided over by the respective sub-delegates of the Government and in which municipalities, Civil Guard, National Police, General Directorate of Traffic, Civil Protection, emergency services and regional and provincial officials participated.

These meetings have made it possible to analyze the expected influx of visitors, identify the points of greatest concentration of people and establish specific protocols for traffic regulation, health care, emergency response, citizen security and the protection of the natural environment.

As for the areas of best visibility Sabrido has pointed out that "we have foreseen in the province of Guadalajara 17 observation points including the observatory of Yebes where the information will be centralized, and in the province of Cuenca 8".

Strengthening security and traffic

The device provides for the reinforcement of the troops of the Civil Guard and the Traffic Group, as well as a permanent monitoring of mobility to facilitate movements and minimize detentions. “The Guarid Civil will have 800 officers mobilized in the afternoon, and throughout the day more than 1,000 in Citizen Security, Seprona, Traffic Sector and the Pegaso team.” The observation points are located in areas of the Civil Guard demarcation but also 300 national police officers will monitor that day.

In addition, surveillance will be increased in the main accesses to the observation areas, specific parking regulation measures will be established and the presence of patrols will be strengthened in those natural spaces where a greater concentration of people is expected.

The best places to contemplate the eclipse

In Guadalajara the entire province is within the full range of the eclipse and among the specially highlighted places are:

• Yebes, where the Astronomical Observatory of Yebes is located, also chosen by the Government of Spain as an official center for monitoring the eclipse.
• Trijueque, with the Balcony of the Alcarria.
• Miralrío, in the surroundings of the Pico de la Muela.
• The area of Sigüenza and Alto Henares.
• Municipalities of the Serranía de Guadalajara and the surroundings of the Alto Tajo.

In Cuenca the totality will be visible mainly in the northern half of the province, with 128 municipalities within the totality area and among the places of interest for observation are:

• Vega del Codorno, where an Astronomical Observatory is located.
• The Serrania of Cuenca.
• The City of Cuenca, which will also have totality and has numerous high points.
• Guide us, with the Solar Clock Viewpoint.
• Various municipalities of the Serranía and the northern province.

For this reason, the delegate has recommended planning trips well in advance, following the instructions of the agents and avoiding undue parking that may hinder circulation or compromise safety.

Call to Responsibility

José Pablo Sabrido has appealed to the citizens to enjoy the eclipse responsibly, using exclusively certified glasses for their observation, respecting the rules of circulation and taking precautions against the high temperatures expected for those dates. He insisted that the high influx of visitors is compatible with the protection of the environment “we have to be very careful with fires and take care of the environment. We call on citizens to take care of the areas they are going to visit.”