Spanish Shoppers Stockpile Food and Fuel as Protests Cut Off Supplies
June 11th, 2008Via: Reuters:
Spanish drivers and shoppers stockpiled fuel and food on Tuesday, fearing shortages after lorry drivers blocked deliveries across the country for a second day of an indefinite protest at the high price of fuel.
Cars queued at petrol stations — 40 percent of which had run out of fuel in the worst affected area of Catalonia — and supplies of fresh food began to run low in some markets, Spanish media reported.
Police motorbike riders escorted fuel tankers to some petrol stations to break picket lines and prevent attacks, after some strikers slashed lorry tires on Monday.
“I heard all the petrol stations were running out of fuel so I came to fill up, otherwise I worried I won’t be able to get to work tomorrow,” said a Madrid driver who gave his name as Raul.
Oil company Cepsa said 45 percent of its deliveries had failed to get through to stations due to strikers blocking their path at fuel deposits, although Spain’s biggest oil firm Repsol said deliveries were getting through with “relative normality.”
Half the normal number of tankers picked up fuel at deposits on Monday, distribution firm CLH said, though the spokesman added that many oil companies had taken on extra supplies in previous days in anticipation of the strike.
Truckers caused traffic chaos in Madrid by slowing almost all roads into the capital, while others blockaded wholesale food markets.
Authorities opened toll booths to ease traffic chaos around the capital, media reported and Barcelona’s city council said it was preparing a plan to ensure supplies of food, fuel and health supplies got through.
