Uria and Jeantet, the Spanish and French members of the original alliance, have left rather than see their cultures submerged.

ECONOMIST: Professional services

Female singers in the running for the top award include Britain's Sarah Connolly, Joyce DiDonato, Evelyn Herlitzius, Catherine Naglestad, Nina Stemme, and Beatrice Uria-Monzon.

BBC: Opera magazine to hold inaugural awards in London

The head of the Civil Defence agency, Angel Rangel, has highlighted the case of Carmen de Uria, a community where only about 100 of the 3, 000 homes were left standing.

BBC: News Online