Fatshimetry in Spain: The dramatic consequences of violent storms
At the heart of recent news in Spain, violent storms have once again hit the country’s coastal provinces hard, causing the evacuation of thousands of people just two weeks after deadly floods in the Valencia region and its surroundings.
Indeed, more than 4,000 people and a thousand homes have been evacuated in the Malaga region, as reported Thursday by Antonio Sanz, director of the Emergency Plan for Flood Risk in Andalusia.
Five areas located near the banks of the Guadalhorce River have been evacuated as a precaution due to the risk of overflow. In just one hour, nearly a month’s worth of rainfall submerged the city of Malaga, in the Andalusia region, according to the Spanish Meteorological Agency AEMet. The southern Spanish province has recorded about 100 millimeters (4 inches) of rain so far on Wednesday, with 78 millimeters (3 inches) falling in just one hour. Malaga normally averages 100.5 millimeters of rainfall in November.
Spain’s meteorological agency has issued red alerts in the Andalusia and Catalonia regions due to heavy rain, with reports of impassable roads and flooded basements in several cities.
Images from the scene show streets in Malaga submerged in water. Malaga City Council issued evacuation orders Wednesday near the Campanillas River due to the risk of it overflowing. The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility also announced the suspension of rail service between Malaga and Madrid due to water accumulating on the tracks.
Heavy rain is expected to continue into the evening from the provinces of Malaga and Granada to Valencia and Tarragona, where up to 180 millimeters (7 inches) of precipitation is possible. Authorities announced that schools would be closed Thursday across the province of Malaga, as well as in areas placed on orange alert for rain, including the municipalities of Seville, Cádiz and Huelva.
The coastal region of Valencia province has now been placed under a red weather alert for Thursday. Spanish Transport Minister Óscar Puente announced the closure of all non-essential travel on Valencia’s roads at 6 p.m. local time (12 p.m. EST) on Wednesday.
Valencia City Council announced that school activities were suspended throughout the city of Valencia and its districts on Wednesday and Thursday to avoid risks.
The country is still reeling from historic flooding that killed more than 220 people just two weeks ago, the worst flooding in its history in decades. Last weekend, protesters marched in Valencia to demand the resignation of the regional president, Carlos Mazón, due to the slow response to the deadly natural disaster.
Amid these dramatic events, Spain continues to face major challenges in protecting its citizens and preventing further devastating weather disasters. The emergency measures taken by the authorities demonstrate the gravity of the situation and the need for rapid and coordinated action to address the impacts of climate change and strengthen the resilience of communities to extreme weather hazards.
In a world where extreme weather events are increasing, Spain must prepare to face such challenges with determination, solidarity and efficiency to protect the lives and property of its citizens, and to ensure a safer and more sustainable future for all.