Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Liveupdated

Malaga flooding latest: Severe rain alerts as homes ‘decimated’ after month’s worth of rainfall hits in hours

Thousands evacuated in Malaga as powerful storm hits Spain just weeks after deadly flash floods

Rachel Hagan,Tara Cobham,Andy Gregory
Thursday 14 November 2024 11:41 GMT
Comments
Spain: Thousands evacuate as torrential rain hits Malaga

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Severe weather alerts have been issued and thousands evacuated as a powerful storm brings a month’s worth of rain and high winds to Spain just weeks after deadly flash floods hit the country.

While a red alert in Valencia was lifted on Thursday morning after more than 100mm of rain fell in some areas, warnings remained in place. Dozens of emergency callouts were reported overnight, mostly in areas worst-hit by the previous floods, which killed more than 200 people.

Although the fresh rains appear to have brought limited damage, in the Malaga province, homes were “decimated” by flooding after a river burst its banks on Wednesday in the town of Benamargosa, as around 3,000 people living along the Guadalhorce River and reportedly a further 1,100 near the Vélez River were evacuated.

The city of Malaga’s main hospital was forced to limit services to emergencies only after becoming 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”.

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.

(Marina Ciudad via REUTERS)
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.

The Costa del Sol is along the southern coast of Spain, facing the Mediterranean Sea, stretching across the province of Malaga and east of Gibraltar
The Costa del Sol is along the southern coast of Spain, facing the Mediterranean Sea, stretching across the province of Malaga and east of Gibraltar (AMET)
Albert Toth14 November 2024 07:48

In pictures: Torrential rain lashes Spain just two weeks after deadly flash floods

People set up a barricade near the Campanillas river
People set up a barricade near the Campanillas river (REUTERS)
Spanish authorities issued a red weather alert for extreme rain and flooding in Malaga
Spanish authorities issued a red weather alert for extreme rain and flooding in Malaga (Getty Images)
The finals of the Billie Jean King tennis tournament in Malaga were postponed to Friday
The finals of the Billie Jean King tennis tournament in Malaga were postponed to Friday (Manu Fernandez)
Tara Cobham14 November 2024 07:00

Is it safe to travel to Spain and should I cancel my holiday after flooding disaster?

Dozens of flights have been delayed and disrupted after a powerful storm bringing strong winds and heavy rain has barrelled over popular tourist destination Costa del Sol in Spain.

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:

Is it safe to travel to Spain? Should I cancel my Malaga holiday?

Extreme weather in Spain is back over Malaga as flights and train travel are disrupted due to wind and rain

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.

The finals of the Billie Jean King tennis tournament in Malaga were cancelled on Wednesday due to the heavy rain
The finals of the Billie Jean King tennis tournament in Malaga were cancelled on Wednesday due to the heavy rain (AP)
Tara Cobham14 November 2024 05:00

Watch: Heavy rain hits Valencia while region still recovering from recent floods

Spain: Heavy rain hits Valencia while region still recovering from recent floods
Tara Cobham14 November 2024 04:00

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in