Malaga floods latest: more than 1,000 incidents reported as orange warning extended

THE intense rainfall which caused widespread flooding throughout low-lying areas of Malaga province on Sunday, December 4, has continued into Monday, leading authorities to maintain the orange weather alert until at least midday, although the level 2 flood emergency has been downgraded to level 1.

The rain mostly reduced overnight, but Pujerra, Jubrique, and the Sierra Bermeja still received significant quantities, and the impact may be felt on the coast as rivers remain dangerously swollen.

Many towns on the Costa del Sol continue to fight the floods, with Estepona having received in excess of 305 litres per square metre of water since Thursday, more than during the rest of the year combined.

Emergency services in the municipality have received more than 300 call-outs, with more than 20 incidences of people being trapped in their vehicles after ignoring council warnings to avoid driving.

The local police headquarters has suffered damages estimated at around €60,000, while in Sabinillas many families had to be evacuated and the underground tunnel on the A-7 continues to hold more than three metres of water.

Nearby Nueva Andalucia remains cut off and many homes have no telephone or internet.

The seafront boulevard in San Pedro de Alcantara has been heavily damaged, and the El Pinar building close to the mouth of the rio Guadaiza flooded, resulting in the evacuation of three families including 8 children.

In Mijas, fifty-five people were evacuated from the La Alberquilla and El Chaparral neighbourhoods, while patrons of one restaurant had to be rescued from the roof and fire fighters also saved the lives of a dozen horses that had become trapped in a flooded field.

Police helicopter pilots described the scene in Santa Amalia, Alhaurin de la Torre, as “bleak,” with “people on top of their houses…we were guiding them with a loudspeaker.”

Much of Malaga city centre also remains flooded or at risk of flooding, with many people unable to leave their homes and Sunday’s marathon cancelled.

In Ronda, two people were rescued from the roof of their car after they attempted to drive across a flooded stream in Llanos de Aguaya when returning from a mushroom-picking excursion.

The Junta de Andalucia have also taken the decision to suspend school classes in Estepona, Manilva, Casares, Mijas pueblo and Cartama Estacion as a result of the disorder.

Forecasts for Monday suggest that the rain will continue to ease of, and major clean-up operations are already underway in zones where the water has receded, as Andalucian president Susana Diaz pledged that a full assessment would be carried out as soon as possible in order to establish priorities.

In general, the rainfall since Thursday has exceeded more than a third of the annual average.

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Estepona:

Rio Guadaiza:

Marbella:

Mijas – Fuengirola:

Mijas:

Malaga City:

Malaga Metro: