Severe weather alerts have been issued and thousands were evacuated as a powerful storm brought a month’s worth of rain to parts of Spain just weeks after deadly flash floods hit the country.
Malaga was hit first by the storm, with flooded hospitals forced to limit services and around 4,000 people in the region evacuated on Wednesday. Residents in Benamargosa described homes being “decimated” after the river running through the town’s centre burst its banks.
In Valencia – the region most badly hit by last month’s fatal floods, which killed more than 220 people – a red weather alert was lifted on Thursday morning after more than 100mm of rain fell in some areas, with little damage reported after a tense night.
But warnings remained in place in Spain’s southwest on Friday. Andalusian emergency authorities urged “extreme caution” as they reported callouts to flooded homes and streets, mainly from 6:30am onwards.
The Huelva coastline was subject to warnings for water spouts and up to 80mm of rain in 12 hours, while the Costa del Sol was also notified of strong winds and waves up to 3 metres tall.
Key points
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Severe rain warnings remain in place in southwestern Spain
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Emergency callouts to flooded homes in Andalusia on Friday morning
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Red weather alert lifted in Valencia after emergency line receives 100 calls overnight
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Homes ‘decimated’ in Malaga village after river bursts its banks
Andalusian authorities record more than 1,320 emergency incidents during storm
10:39 , Andy Gregory
Emergency authorities in Andalusia have dealt with more than 1,320 incidents since the start of this week’s storm, it was reported last night.
Of those, just over 1,000 were reported in Malaga, 142 were in Granada, 65 in Almeria, 37 in Cadiz and 28 in Seville, Europa Press reported.
Meanwhile, the region’s flood planning chief Antonio Sanz said the more than 4,200 people evacuated from their homes on the banks of the Guadalhorce River in Malaga had been permitted to return.
Andalusian emergency authorities urge ‘extreme caution’
09:39 , Andy Gregory
Andalusia’s emergency coordination centre has urged residents in Spain’s southwestern Huelva region to take extreme caution as the heavy rain and thunderstorms continue.
In an update this morning, authorities warned that the emergency services were being notified mostly due to flooding in homes and on property, as well as pools in the streets, mainly from 6.30am onwards. So far no injuries had been reported, they said.
Provinces in Andalusia remain on alert over storm – with risk of waterspouts
09:02 , Andy Gregory
Several provinces in Andalusia remain on alert over the latest storm to hit Spain – with a significant risk of water spouts in Huelva, on the coastline bordering Portugal.
Forecaster Aemet has issued an orange alert in Huelva, where up to 80mm of rain are expected to fall in the space of 12 hours, including deluges of up to 30mm in a single hour.
Yellow alerts for rain and storms are also in force in neighbouring Cadiz and Aracena, while warnings have been issued on coastlines further east, along the popular Costa del Sol tourist destination, where forecasters point to the risk of powerful winds and waves reaching up to 3 metres high.
(Aemet)
Roads restricted as emergency relief work underway
08:10 , Albert Toth
Authorities have agreed on an order to restrict access to certain roads as emergency services work to support those affected by the flooding.
Searches at sea are underway for possible victims, reports Spain’s Emergency Coordination Centre. Meanwhile, extraction trucks remove sludge from the streets.
Sewage systems were also heavily impacted by the flooding, but 64 per cent of them have now been recovered.
Water and dirt removed from the affected area will be deposited at the mouth of the River Turia, near Valencia, as approved by environmental agencies.
Authorities provide Friday morning update
07:45 , Albert Toth
Emergency situations remain in Valencia and parts of Castellón, Spain’s Emergency Coordination Centre has said.
The authority adds that rain is expected to become less severe in northern Valencia, but keeps in place yellow alerts for rain in the south.
Residents of Alicante have also been warned that a yellow alert is in place on the northern coast.
The update adds that 1,891 firefighters and 8,561 army personnel are still deployed on the ground.
Most schools to reopen in Valencia
07:00 , Andy Gregory
Valencia’s city council announced Thursday that classes would resume on Friday in most schools within the city and surrounding areas, with exceptions for schools in La Torre and Forn d’Alcedo.
Residents were encouraged to use public transport, bicycles or walk. It also lifted a ban on the use of private cars.
Huge amounts of rain fall overnight in Valencia
06:00 , Andy Gregory
According to data from the Spanish state weather forecaster Aemet, the highest rainfall recorded overnight in Valencia on Wednesday into Thursday included 110 millimetres in Alcudia de Veo, 99mm in Suera, and 88mm in Chiva.
By comparison, Malaga usually averages 100.5 mm of rain for the entire month of November.
Guadiaro River just centimetres from overflowing
05:00 , Andy Gregory
Andalusia’s regional head, Juan Moreno, of the conservative Popular Party (PP) said on Thursday afternoon that the Guadiaro River was just six centimetres away from overflowing.
He cautioned that “normal conditions are not in place,” despite the downgraded weather warnings.
The regional Andalusian government has ordered authorities in Cadiz to evacuate homes in three neighbourhoods near the Guadiaro River because of rising water levels.
The neighbourhoods are situated on the border between the provinces of Malaga and Cadiz. It is unclear how many people are impacted.
Full report: Thousands in Spain unable to return home as rain deluge brings fresh flood risk
04:00 , Andy Gregory
Thousands of Spaniards evacuated ahead of a fresh deluge of rain have been told not to return home as as swollen riverbanks threaten to overflow.
Local authorities had issue severe rain alerts in Andalusia and Valencia and referenced further storms in the provinces of Huelva, Cadiz, Seville and Alicante on Wednesday night into Thursday.
While a number of those weather warnings were downgraded across Thursday, emergency services in Malaga kept almost 4,000 people who were evacuated because of a flood risk out of their homes from rising river waters. Schools also stayed closed in the province and in different towns in Granada, Sevilla, Cadiz and Huelva. Half a million children in total stayed away from Andalusian schools on Wednesday.
My colleague Rachel Hagan reports:
Thousands in Spain unable to return home as rain deluge brings fresh flood risk
Malaga streets turn to rivers as floodwaters sweep through Costa del Sol town
03:01 , Andy Gregory
Malaga streets turned to rivers on Wednesday as floodwaters sweep through the Costa del Sol.
Footage released by the Guardia Civil shows the river bursting its bank in Benamorgasa with vehicles submerged:
Video: Malaga streets turn to rivers as floodwaters sweep through Costa del Sol town
Watch: Cars and furniture lay piled up in mud as Spain reels from deadly floods
02:01 , Andy Gregory
Spain struggles to get children back to school after deadly floods
01:00 , Andy Gregory
While half a million children stayed away from Andalusian schools on Wednesday as a result of the latest storm, Spanish authorities had already been struggling to get children back in classrooms after last month’s deadly floods:
Spain struggles to get children back to school after deadly floods
Generation Snowflake? I couldn’t believe what I saw young people doing in the Valencia floods
00:01 , Andy Gregory
Generation Snowflake? I couldn’t believe what I saw young people doing in Valencia
How Spain’s ‘catastrophic’ floods led to over 200 deaths
Thursday 14 November 2024 23:32 , Andy Gregory
The latest storm comes on the back of Spain’s worst floods in recent memory, which left at least 217 people dead, submerged towns, toppled bridges and cut entire communities off from the outside world.
My colleague Stuti Mishra has more details on why the floods proved so dangerous:
How Spain’s ‘catastrophic’ floods led to over 200 deaths – explained through pictures
Pictured: Clean-up continues in Valencian municipality as streets choked with mud
Thursday 14 November 2024 23:01 , Andy Gregory
Police, military and volunteers are continuing with cleaning operations in the flood-hit Valencian municipality of Paiporta.
(EPA)
(EPA)
(EPA)
City authorities activate emergency plans in Huelva
Thursday 14 November 2024 22:32 , Andy Gregory
A coastal city close to Spain’s border with Portugal activated its emergency plan on Thursday afternoon after orange weather alerts were issued in the area.
Under the plans put in force by Huelva City Council, all public parks, municipal buildings and sports facilities were closed, while municipal workers were told to work remotely where possible, Spanish news agency EFE reported.
Citizens in the city were urged to take “maximum precaution”.
Watch: Spain’s king vows to give ‘hope’ after angry residents throw mud on his visit to Valencia town
Thursday 14 November 2024 22:00 , Andy Gregory
‘Only objective’ is to minimise damage and avoid human losses, warns Andalusian president
Thursday 14 November 2024 21:31 , Andy Gregory
The “only objective” for authorities in Andalusia during this storm is to “minimise the damage and especially avoid human losses”, regional leader Juanma Moreno has said.
But Mr Moreno warned that this “cannot be achieved if there is not maximum collaboration on the part of all citizens”, as he urged “maximum caution”, Europa Press reported.
Water spout forms over sea in Malaga
Thursday 14 November 2024 21:00 , Andy Gregory
A water spout was pictured yesterday forming over the sea off the coast of Malaga, while large hailstones were also reported as the city was battered by the storm.
(via REUTERS)
What caused the devastating flash flooding in Spain?
Thursday 14 November 2024 20:31 , Andy Gregory
Spain is known to be particularly vulnerable to torrential autumn downpours, caused by a weather phenomenon known as the “cold drop” – or DANA, an acronym for Depresion Aislada en Niveles Altos.
However, the destructive weather system is believed to be worsening in the wake of climate change, accumulating in the flash flooding being the worst the region has seen in three decades.
My colleague Athena Stavrou has more details in this explainer:
What caused the devastating flash flooding in Spain?
Events parallel to Seville European Film Festival cancelled
Thursday 14 November 2024 20:02 , Andy Gregory
Some events running parallel to the Seville European Film Festival have been postponed, according to local outlet ABC, as the city is subject to an orange weather alert.
Mayor José Luis Sanz was due to be presenting an award to the actor Jeremy Irons as part of the festival, but will no longer be attending the event.
The annual festival has been held each year since 2004.
Fuengirola lifts state of emergency after flooded streets and fallen trees
Thursday 14 November 2024 19:31 , Andy Gregory
Authorities in Fuengirola, Malaga, have lifted the state of emergency put in force in response to the storm this week.
Mayor Ana Mula was quoted by Europa Press as saying: “There have been occasional traffic cuts, due to the amount of water that fell in a short period of time … where traffic had to be interrupted for a few moments to allow the water to drain away.”
“There have also been some fallen trees on Avenida de Los Boliches, Calle Tejar and the Fairgrounds, but thanks to the responsibility and collaboration of the people of Fuengirola, everything has worked relatively well, taking into account the amount of water that fell in a very short time,” Ms Mula added.
Flights cancelled over Valencia as new storm hit
Thursday 14 November 2024 19:02 , Andy Gregory
Out of the 296 commercial flights that were scheduled at Malaga-Costa Del Sol airport on Wednesday, 15 had been cancelled as of 8pm local time, and around five had been diverted, Spain’s airport group, Aena, said.
Aena had asked that anyone flying from Malaga-Costa Del Sol airport and Barcelona’s El Prat Airport on Wednesday check the status of their flight with their airline, as heavy rain and adverse weather were affecting approaches to both airlines.
As of Thursday afternoon, most flights coming into the airport were landing on time, while one Iberia flight coming in from Valencia had been cancelled, along with another to Paris and one to Stockholm. Most of the scheduled departures flying out from Malaga were also undisrupted.
It appears that Valenica’s airport was experiencing disruption, however, with FlightRadar is showing that around 20 flights scheduled to depart on Thursday had been cancelled as of Thursday afternoon.
Is it safe to travel to Spain and should I cancel my holiday after flooding disaster?
Thursday 14 November 2024 18:31 , Andy Gregory
Travel chaos in Malaga has improved after dozens of flights were delayed and 15 cancelled following a powerful storm over the popular tourist destination.
High-speed train services in Malaga were also reopening on Thursday after trains were halted and stations were evacuated due to flooding, national rail infrastructure operator Adif said.
My colleague Amelia Neath has the latest travel advice:
Is it safe to travel to Spain? Should I cancel my Malaga holiday?
Evacuations ordered near river in Cadiz as water levels rise
Thursday 14 November 2024 18:02 , Andy Gregory
The regional Andalusian government has ordered authorities in Cadiz to evacuate homes in three neighbourhoods near the Guadiaro River because of rising water levels.
The neighbourhoods are situated on the border between the provinces of Malaga and Cadiz. It is unclear how many people are impacted.
Teachers with pupils impacted by floods to be given emotional support courses
Thursday 14 November 2024 17:32 , Andy Gregory
Spain’s department for education has drawn up plans for teachers with pupils impacted by the deadly floods to receive emotional support courses, Europa Press reported.
Fresh rains come after thousands protested floods response in Valencia
Thursday 14 November 2024 17:01 , Andy Gregory
The latest storms, and robust preparations for their arrival, came after fierce criticism, primarily of local authorities but also national government, for their level of preparation for and warnings to citizens about last month’s fatal floods.
Just days prior to the recent rains, thousands of Spaniards took to the streets of Valencia to call for the city’s leader to step down.
Protestors carrying signs reading “You killed us!” marched towards Valencia’s city hall where they were met with riot police and beaten back with batons.
Thousands of protesters take to streets of Valencia following deadly flooding
‘It’s all destroyed’: Aftermath of deadly flash floods in Spain
Thursday 14 November 2024 16:30 , Andy Gregory
Here is some footage from the aftermath of last month’s deadly flash floods, which marked the worst natural disaster in Spain’s living memory.
Valencia lifts ban on using cars
Thursday 14 November 2024 16:01 , Andy Gregory
Valencia has lifted a ban on the use of private cars and allowed schools to reopen from midday after the worst of the storm passed, the spokesperson for the five million-strong region’s emergency committee, Rosa Touris, has told reporters.
A red weather alert was issued in the region on Wednesday evening, with an anxious night for many in areas worst hit during last month’s fatal floods.
Valencia says areas hardest-hit by deadly storms left unscathed
Thursday 14 November 2024 15:29 , Andy Gregory
The emergency committee in Valencia, where there were concerns about the potential impact of more rainfall in areas with significant quantities of mud already and damaged sewage systems, said the areas affected by the deadly storms were not hit this time.
Orange weather alerts clustered in Spain’s southwest
Thursday 14 November 2024 14:56 , Andy Gregory
Here is the weather alert map as things stand.
The orange alerts issued by Aemet are concentrated in Spain’s southwest – covering Seville, Huelva, Andévalo and Condado, Aracena, Cadiz, Narrow and Grazalema.
(Aemet)
Around 4,000 people still kept from homes after torrential rains
Thursday 14 November 2024 14:29 , Andy Gregory
Emergency services in Malaga have kept almost 4,000 people who were evacuated because of a flood risk out of their homes today, the Associated Press reports.
People living along the Guadalhorce River and a further 1,100 near the Vélez River were evacuated as the rains hit on Wednesday.
Hundreds spend night in emergency shelter in Vélez-Málaga
Thursday 14 November 2024 13:47 , Andy Gregory
More than 280 people slept last night in a temporary shelter set up by the Spanish Red Cross in Vélez-Málaga as the region was lashed with rain and thousands evacuated.
Mapped: Where are severe weather alerts in force in Spain as thousands evacuated from floods?
Thursday 14 November 2024 13:36 , Andy Gregory
While yesterday’s red weather alerts were downgraded on Thursday morning, severe rain warnings remained in force across swathes of the country.
Read more details here:
Mapped: Where are severe weather alerts in force in Spain?
Granada airport records highest ever daily rainfall total
Thursday 14 November 2024 13:12 , Andy Gregory
As the storm hit Andalusia yesterday, Granada Airport registered a record daily rainfall total of 86.2mm, Europa Press reported.
‘Seville is prepared,’ says mayor
Thursday 14 November 2024 13:02 , Andy Gregory
Schools and universities have been closed in Seville, although public transport continues to run normally in the popular tourist destination, according to local outlet ABC.
With heavy rain filmed falling in the city, which is subject to an orange weather alert, mayor José Luis Sanz has sought to reassure residents that “Seville is prepared” and has nearly 1,900 troops available to help if needed.
Madrid-Valencia train line reopens after storm closure
Thursday 14 November 2024 12:51 , Andy Gregory
Spain’s state-owned rail operator Renfe has reopened the line from Madrid to Valencia after it was closed as a result of the storm.
Transport minister Oscar Puente shared footage of the first train departing from Madrid on Thursday, and said that in addition to passengers it was also carrying 250 pressure washers to help with the clean-up effort in Valencia.
What is Spain’s weather service forecasting?
Thursday 14 November 2024 12:41 , Andy Gregory
Here is the general forecast issued by Spain’s national weather service Aemet:
“The DANA is expected to transition into an isolated cold low that will be located in the southwest of the Peninsula, affecting almost the entire country.
“Precipitation is expected in the southwest quadrant of the Peninsula, areas of the northwest, southeast, Levante, Pitiusas and the Canary Islands, without ruling out surrounding areas.
“These precipitations will be locally very strong and persistent on the coasts of Valencia and Alicante, as well as in western Andalusia, and strong in surrounding areas, south of Extremadura and south of the Central system. In areas where these intensities are reached, they will be accompanied by storms.”
What caused the devastating flash flooding in Spain?
Thursday 14 November 2024 12:30 , Andy Gregory
Spain is known to be particularly vulnerable to torrential autumn downpours, caused by a weather phenomenon known as the “cold drop” – or DANA, an acronym for Depresion Aislada en Niveles Altos.
However, the destructive weather system is believed to be worsening in the wake of climate change, accumulating in the flash flooding being the worst the region has seen in three decades.
My colleague Athena Stavrou has more details in this explainer:
What caused the devastating flash flooding in Spain?
Schools remain closed in Malaga
Thursday 14 November 2024 12:08 , Andy Gregory
With the situation in Malaga returning to normal after yesterday’s downpours brought flooding, schools will still remain closed throughout the province on Thursday, EFE reports.
(Getty Images)
Firefighters attend 14 rescues in Valencia, report says
Thursday 14 November 2024 11:49 , Andy Gregory
Firefighters are continuing to pump water and clean facades hit by landslides in the north Valencian province of Castellon, where they have carried out nearly 100 services related to the rains since 2pm on Wednesday, Europa Press reports.
Of those, 14 have been rescues affecting 33 people, while the other callouts relate to pumping floodwaters from homes and clearing landslides, El Mundo reported.
Relief as Valencia weather alerts downgraded
Thursday 14 November 2024 11:20 , Andy Gregory
Weather alerts in Valencia have now been downgraded again to yellow warnings, with reports of supermarkets and other services reopening after a “tense” night.
Forecaster Aemet is still warning that up to 80mm of rain could fall within 12 hours in some areas.
Spanish news agency EFE reported authorities in parts of Valencia worst-hit by the recent floods as describing it as a “relatively calm” but “tense” night after red weather alerts were issued yesterday evening.
Months’ worth of rain falls in Valencia
Thursday 14 November 2024 10:27 , Andy Gregory
More than a month’s worth of rain has fallen in parts of Valencia.
Citing Aemet data, El Pais reported that the highest rainfall records overnight were 110mm in Alcudia de Veo, 99mm in Suera and 88mm in Chiva.
Pictured: Residents in Malaga village clear streets after river burst its banks
Thursday 14 November 2024 10:05 , Andy Gregory
Here are some of the latest pictures from Benamargosa, where residents described houses being “decimated” after the river running through the centre of the village burst its banks yesterday.
Residents remove debris and mud from a street in Benamargosa, Malaga (EPA/Jorge Zapata)
(EPA/Jorge Zapata)
(EPA/Jorge Zapata)
Mapped: Where are current weather alerts in force?
Thursday 14 November 2024 09:36 , Andy Gregory
Here is the latest map showing the weather alerts issued by Spain’s national forecaster Aemet.
On the east coast, Valencia remains subject to an orange alert, with up to 100mm of rain forecast in the space of 12 hours. In the west, organge alerts are also in force in Huelva, Andévalo and Condado, Aracena, Seville, Cadiz, Narrow and Grazalema.
Lesser yellow warnings are also in force further north in Avila, southern Salamanca and northern Caceres, as well as along the coastlines of Granada and Almeria, and inland at Murcia, Alcaraz and Segura. The northwest coastline, above Portugal, is also subject to alerts over gale-force winds.
(Aemet)
Homes ‘decimated’ in Malaga village after river bursts its banks
Thursday 14 November 2024 09:23 , Andy Gregory
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.”
Warning issued over three-metre waves
Thursday 14 November 2024 09:07 , Andy Gregory
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.
Valencia emergency line receives 100 calls overnight
Thursday 14 November 2024 08:35 , Andy Gregory
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.
Red weather alerts lifted in Valencia
Thursday 14 November 2024 08:21 , Andy Gregory
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.”