torrential rains associated with Storm Francis The last few hours have left a very delicate situation in Andalusia, with overflowing rivers, flooded homes and hundreds of incidents managed by the 112 emergency service. Although the intensity of the rain has subsided in some areas, the river network remains very full and the risk of flooding continues to be high.
The provinces of Malaga and Cadiz They have borne the brunt of it, especially in the regions of Sun and Guadalhorce and the Campo de GibraltarThe floods of Guadalhorce, Grande, Turón, Hozgarganta or GuadarranqueThis, along with the saturation of streams and ravines, has forced evacuate residents, close roads, and activate emergency plans at the local and regional levels.
Rivers overflowing and historic floods in Malaga and Cadiz
The SAIH Hidrosur control network has been monitoring throughout the day very rapid increases in flow in numerous locations throughout the Andalusian Mediterranean basin. In the province of Cádiz, the Hozgarganta RiverThe area near Jimena de la Frontera has registered extraordinary levels, with accumulated rainfall reaching around 200 liters per square meter in 24 hours and that they have left isolated houses and a rural hotel cut off from the mainland.
In the same province, there is particular concern about flooding of the Guadarranque downstream from the reservoirThe Andalusian Regional Government has ordered the preventive eviction of some 470 homes in the municipalities of San Roque (areas of Guadarranque, Taraguilla and San Roque Station) and Los Barrios (Guadacorte urbanization), given the risk of flooding if the river continues to increase its flow.
Also in Cádiz, the Guadiaro and other secondary channels have been maintained in levels of continuous surveillancewith occasional flooding that has forced authorities to take extra precautions in rural areas and at fords. Local authorities have repeatedly asked the public to Do not cross flooded roads or highways even though "it may seem that they don't carry that much water."
In the province of Malaga, the situation has been even more tense in the area of Guadalhorce River and its tributariesIn Estación de Cártama, the riverbed has once again come close to its record highs of flooding, with peaks above the Meters 5,5 and several hours in red level emergency for exceeding their capacity.
El Rio Grande, as it passes through Las Millanas (Tolox), has marked a historic floodexceeding 2,9 meters and surpassing its maximum record of 2018. For more than 20 hours it has remained at red and orange alert levels, with its flow overflowing and dragging a large amount of water towards the Guadalhorce.
El Turon RiverIn the Ardales area, it has also reached pre-alert situation due to possible overflowreaching a height of approximately 2,5 meters before beginning a gradual descent. Despite the subsequent improvement, Monitoring of these waterways remains constant, given that any new episode of heavy rain could reactivate the problems.
Evacuations, isolated neighborhoods, and emergency plans activated
The river floods have had direct consequences in numerous population centersIn Cártama, around thirty residents of Estación de Cártama have had to leave their homes due to flooding. Most have stayed with family or friends, while a dozen people have been rehoused in a sports center converted into a shelter.
En Jimena de la FronteraThe ascent of Hozgarganta has left between 10 and 15 houses and a completely isolated rural hotelAt least 10 people have been evacuated 17 peopleincluding two elderly women with symptoms of hypothermia who have been taken to a medical center. Others have been moved to relatives' homes until their conditions improve.
The city of Malaga has also been seriously affected, especially the Campanillas districtCivil Protection has recommended to residents of the neighborhoods of Saint Amalia and Saint Agatha that Leave your homes if you can go to relatives' houses Or, failing that, to move to higher floors due to the risk of flooding linked to the Guadalhorce River. Personnel have been deployed in the area. Extensive deployments of local police, firefighters and volunteers.
En Los Barrios (Cádiz), the municipality has activated its Municipal Emergency Plan After recording numerous incidents due to rising river levels, with residents evacuated in housing developments like Benharás and isolated rescues in flooded homes. Something similar has occurred in Algeciras, where the waterlogged floors and flooding in garages and basements have caused multiple emergency service callouts.
At the regional level, the Andalusian Regional Government has activated the emergency phase of the Flood Plan, with special attention to the regions of Sun and Guadalhorce, Campo de Gibraltar, Costa de Huelva and inland areas of Malaga and Cadiz. A total of more than a dozen municipalities They keep their operations running Local Territorial Emergency Plans to coordinate resources and responses in their respective terms.
Red alerts, Es-Alert messages and 112 coordination
The State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has even activated the red warning for torrential rains in the Western Costa del Sol and the Guadalhorce Valley, with forecasts of up to 120 liters per square meter in 12 hoursIn the Campo de Gibraltar and other areas of the Cadiz coast, they have remained orange and yellow warnings due to heavy rainfall, storms and risk of flooding.
Given this scenario, the Andalusian Emergency Agency has used the system on several occasions Es-Alert, sending mass messages to mobile phones located in the most affected areas. In Malaga, the warning has reached 27 municipalities from the Sol and Guadalhorce regions, among them Málaga city, Alhaurín de la Torre, Alhaurín el Grande, Cártama, Coín, Fuengirola, Marbella, Estepona, Mijas, Pizarra, Guaro, Tolox or Benalmádena.
In the province of Cádiz, the messages have been sent to towns such as Los Barrios, San Roque, Castellar, Jimena de la Frontera and San Martín del Tesorillo, reporting on extraordinary danger from rain and flooding And remembering the main self-protection measures: stay away from rivers and streams, do not cross flooded areas and only follow official instructions.
The emergency service 112 Andalusia has coordinated in just one day more than 260 incidents related to Storm Francis, mostly concentrated in Cádiz and Málaga. The interventions have been related to Flooding of homes and businesses, waterlogged roads, traffic disruptions, fallen trees, and rescues of people trapped in vehicles or flooded areas.
The authorities emphasize that, although the heaviest rain will gradually subsideThe riverbeds may continue to rise due to runoff from mountain ranges and river headwaters, so the risk does not disappear immediatelyThe message most frequently repeated by the Regional Government, AEMET (Spanish State Meteorological Agency), and Civil Protection is that Maximum caution and zero confidence in the face of overflowing rivers.
Impact on transport, roads and basic services
River flooding and extreme rainfall have caused major problems in the transport network and in various infrastructuresIn Malaga, the Metro has temporarily suspended line 2 and has limited service on line 1, while several urban and interurban bus lines They have been affected by cuts and detours.
In the railway sector, the commuter rail line C-2 has been interrupted Between Pizarra and Aljaima, a tree fell across the tracks, forcing Renfe to reorganize service and use alternative transport on certain sections. At bus stations, dozens of passengers required assistance. basic measures for shelter and food upon being surprised by the suspension of routes.
The road network presents multiple roads closed or with severe restrictions due to flooding, overflowing streams, and landslides. In the province of Málaga, the following areas are affected, among others: A-7057 in Estación de Cártama, the A-7059 towards Alhaurín de la Torre, the MA-5401 in Casarabonela, the MA-5403 in Ardales, the MA-3304 in Alhaurín el Grande or the MA-8301 between Estepona and Jubrique, where a landslide has blocked the roadway.
In Cadiz, several local and regional roads have suffered cuts due to waterlogged rivers and overflowing riverbeds, such as the CA-9209 between Algeciras and Los BarriosIn addition to affected sections in areas such as Vejer de la Frontera, Jerez, and Puerto Real. In the Serranía de Ronda, the MA-8302 The road to Genalguacil has been closed due to the rising waters of the Almarchal River, which has even overflowed a floodable ford.
The storm has also caused power outages, damage to walls and detached cornices in various municipalities, as well as specific problems in schools and public facilities. In Monda, for example, the partial collapse of a retaining wall in a multi-story building has forced an emergency intervention by the Provincial Fire Consortium.
Damage to the coast and actions at reservoirs
Storm Francis has not only affected the interior, but also the Andalusian coastal stripIn the Huelva region of MatalascanasThe strong waves and rain have caused Damage to the seafront promenade and damage to beach bars and shopsforcing the evacuation of some homes due to the risk of collapse. The area remains cordoned off to prevent access by onlookers.
On the Costa del Sol, the The Fuengirola river has overflowed its banks. in the area of the river mouth, flooding the river park and sports fields located next to the river. In Marbella and EsteponaFirefighters have had to rescue drivers whose vehicles were trapped in floodwaters, as well as attend to flooding in schools and other public buildings.
The episode of rain has also meant a very noticeable increase in reserves in some reservoirsThe swamp of The conception, on the Costa del Sol, has practically reached 100% of its capacity, which has forced us to carry out controlled releases to manage the massive influx of water and minimize downstream risk in waterways such as the Verde River.
In the case of GuadarranqueThe main concern lies in the possible impact on downstream populationsHence the preventative evacuations ordered by the Board. These movements are coordinated with the Andalusian Emergency Agency, Civil Protection, the town councils and the staff of the river basin authorities, which monitor in real time the stored volumes and the necessary maneuvers.
Authorities remind residents that these reservoir release operations, although they may cause concern, are carried out precisely to reduce the risk of an uncontrolled flood in case water contributions to the reservoirs continue.
Civil Protection recommendations and outlook for the next few hours
Given the numerous incidents and the persistence of water in the waterways, both the Andalusian Regional Government and the 112 emergency services reiterate a series of basic self-protection recommendations. First, avoid unnecessary travelespecially on secondary roads, rural roads and sections near rivers and streams, where the road surface may be damaged or hidden underwater.
It is also emphasized that Do not attempt to cross flooded areas by car or on footbecause the depth and strength of the current can be deceptive. Many of the rescues carried out during the storm were due precisely to this. vehicles swept away by floods or trapped in pools formed in tunnels and underground passages.
For those who reside in flood-prone areas or areas near riverbedsEmergency services recommend go up to upper floors If water starts entering homes, cut off the electricity supply if it can be done safely and only follow official sources of information, such as 112, AEMET or the institutional channels of city councils and the Regional Government.
In particularly vulnerable neighborhoods such as Saint Amalia and Saint Agatha in Malaga city, as well as in areas of Cártama, Guaro, Pizarra or Alhaurín, the local councils are asking that Do not use bridges, river crossings or roads near the Grande, Guadalhorce or Fahala rivers until technicians confirm that they have recovered to safe levels.
The weather forecast indicates that the Storm Francis will continue moving eastwardwith a gradual decrease in the intensity of rainfall in western Andalusia and the appearance of new, lower-level warnings in areas of Granada and AlmeriaEven so, emergency agencies warn that the Runoff from the mountains will continue to feed the rivers for hours.Therefore, the permanent monitoring of flow rates will remain key.
This episode leaves a mark on Andalusia a combination of historic floods, preventive evacuations, significant material damage and an intense mobilization of resources to avoid greater problems. Experience once again highlights the vulnerability of many riverine and coastal areas in the face of extreme rainfall, and the importance of heed official warnings without hesitation when rivers begin to rise rapidly.
