Severe Flooding Hits Southern Spain: Evacuations and Emergency Measures in Place
Unrelenting rains in southern Spain have triggered flash floods and evacuation orders in the Andalusian provinces of Málaga and Córdoba, where 19 waterways are currently at red level for the risk of flooding. One body has been found, and at least three more people are reported missing due to the rising waters.
The dangerous conditions have led authorities to close off roads, cancel classes, and suspend railroad service on three lines. In the nearby region of Murcia, several passengers were injured after a bus overturned on the A7 highway, while nine individuals were trapped inside two cars in Águilas, a popular coastal destination.
Firefighters and police have been busy assisting residents in flooded homes near Córdoba airport. Parts of Spain have been experiencing persistently rainy weather since early March, with isolated episodes of flooding earlier this month in the Valencia region, where residents are still recovering from historic flash floods recorded in late October, which also affected parts of Andalusia.
The State Meteorological Agency, Aemet, has maintained an orange warning for rain in Costa del Sol, Málaga, and Axarquía. Although Wednesday is expected to provide some relief from the storm named Laurence, forecasters are warning that a new storm, Martinho, could impact the peninsula on Thursday.
In Málaga, the Andalusian regional government ordered the evacuation of nearly 400 homes in Campanillas, east of the regional capital, due to forecasts indicating that heavy rains could cause the nearby river to overflow. Various parts of the province registered rainfall amounts between 50 mm to 70 mm over the last 12 hours.
In Córdoba, local authorities have evacuated residents from five plots of land adjacent to the Guadalquivir River, which is currently at red level. A Level 1 emergency has been declared in the city’s flood-prone areas. The province of Granada also experienced heavy rain overnight, which continued until nearly 9 AM.
Reservoirs filled to capacity have been opened to release excess water in locations like Casasola, while the Guadalhorce River reached its highest average level since recordkeeping began, causing obvious concerns as it flows through Álora and Cartama. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation as they prepare for potential worsening conditions ahead.
Related Sources: