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Severe weather alerts have been issued and thousands evacuated as a powerful storm brings torrential rain and high winds to Spain just weeks after deadly flash floods hit the country.
Spanish weather forecaster Aemet raised Valencia’s warning level to the maximum on Wednesday evening, after the region was hit hardest in the extreme weather that lashed the country only two weeks ago.
While the red alert was lifted on Thursday morning, severe warnings for up to 100mm remained in place after a night in which dozens of emergency callouts were reported, mostly in areas worst-hit by the previous floods, which killed more than 200 people and destroyed homes.
In the Malaga province, around 3,000 people living along the Guadalhorce River and reportedly a further 1,100 near the Vélez River have been evacuated, while the city’s main hospital is now limiting services to emergencies only after it flooded.
The Costa del Sol, including popular tourist destinations like Marbella, Estepona, and Vélez, is bearing the brunt of the extreme weather phenomenon known as a “Dana”, which will see up to 7.1 inches of rain in some areas within hours.
Flood warnings extend across much of southern Spain, with meteorologists cautioning that rivers could overflow and gusts of up to 74 miles per hour may worsen the situation.
Homes ‘decimated’ in Malaga village after river bursts its banks
An expat living in a town in Malaga has described homes and businesses being “decimated” after the river running through its centre burst its banks.
Andrew Poole, who lives in Benamargosa, said: “We’re about 40 minutes away from Malaga in a little village. Normally the river that flows through is dry, it’s actually used as the local car park.
“We got an alert on our phone on the evening before the storms hit, a red alert for the whole area, and then the waters started to come down and it didn’t stop. And then it got worse, and the water levels just started to rise.
“At teatime yesterday, the river itself burst its banks right in the heart of the village … the emergency services, the locals, everyone’s pulling together, working all the way through the night just trying to clear some of the roads in and out so people who have been trapped by the floodwaters, the emergency services can get in to see them.
“Everyone’s houses, businesses [have been] fully decimated. It’s just so sad.”
He added: “We’ve been really lucky here. I think without the red warning there would have been a lot more casualties. As far as I’m aware, I don’t think there has been any here. We were fully prepped to stay indoors and stay away from the floodwaters.”
Andy Gregory14 November 2024 09:23
Water spout forms over sea in Malaga
A water spout was pictured yesterday forming over the sea off the coast of Malaga.
Andy Gregory14 November 2024 09:09
Warning issued over three-metre waves
Warnings have been issued along the coastlines of Granada and Almeria over the potential for waves to reach two to three metres high.
The alerts by Spanish forecaster Aemet, which are in force until midnight, also warn that winds speeds could reach 60km per hour.
Andy Gregory14 November 2024 09:04
Valencia emergency line receives 100 calls overnight
The Spanish emergency line 112 received 100 calls in Valencia overnight and handled 80 incidents, El Pais reports.
Most incidents were in the Camp del Turia and Horta Sud areas, which were heavily affected by the floods a fortnight ago and where an intensive clean-up operation is still under way.
Andy Gregory14 November 2024 08:35
Red weather alerts lifted in Valencia
Red weather alerts have been lifted in Valencia after initially coming into force at 6pm on Wednesday.
National forecaster Aemet said: “The worst of this second storm has passed.
“We have lowered the warning to orange on the coast of Valencia and raised it to orange on the northern coast of Alicante, where it is now raining heavily on the beaches of Dénia.”
Andy Gregory14 November 2024 08:21
Where has rain been heaviest as new flooding hits Spain?
Over 3,000 people have now been evacuated from Malaga as a powerful storm brings heavy rains to Spain. It comes just weeks after devestating flooding in Valencia, on the country’s east coast, killed over 200 people.
A weather map shows where has been hardest hit by the rain. Malaga can be seen highlighted in red in the South, as some parts of the north east (nearer Barcelona) also see storms.
Albert Toth14 November 2024 07:48
In pictures: Torrential rain lashes Spain just two weeks after deadly flash floods
Tara Cobham14 November 2024 07:00
Is it safe to travel to Spain and should I cancel my holiday after flooding disaster?
Thousands of residents have been evacuated along the Guadalhorce River west of Malaga due to a high risk of flooding, while hospitals have already been overwhelmed with water as medics have been pictured wading through water in ward corridors.
Spanish airport authorities have asked that those flying out of Malaga’s airport and El Prat Airport in Barcelona to check with their airline before they travel for flight updates.
My colleague Amelia Neath reports:
Tara Cobham14 November 2024 06:00
Finals of Billie Jean King tennis tournament in Malaga cancelled due to heavy rain
The finals of the Billie Jean King tennis tournament in Malaga were cancelled due to the heavy rain.
Pictures show the rain soaked venue, the Martín Carpena pavilion, on Wednesday, with the event postponed to Friday.
Tara Cobham14 November 2024 05:00
Read More: Malaga floods live: Severe rain alerts as Valencia sees dozens of emergency callouts
