As Spain continues to recuperate from the recent catastrophic floods caused by the "Dana" weather system, a fresh storm is on the horizon, prompting safety alerts and precautionary measures across the country.
Spain Prepares for New Storm Threat Amid Ongoing Recovery Efforts
Spain Prepares for New Storm Threat Amid Ongoing Recovery Efforts
A new weather system is set to bring significant rainfall and cold temperatures to Spain's eastern and southern regions.
A week after devastating flash floods claimed 222 lives and left 23 individuals missing, eastern and southern Spain are bracing for yet another round of severe weather. The new weather system, hitting the Mediterranean coast, is expected to bring torrential rain, with meteorological officials placing parts of Valencia, Catalonia, Andalusia, and the Balearic Islands under an orange alert, indicating a significant threat to normal activities.
Military personnel have been dispatched to areas like Valencia, using loudspeakers to warn residents about the looming storms as fear spreads of more flooding. While the second Dana system is not predicted to cause devastation on the scale of the one observed in late October, authorities are taking no chances. Many towns have suspended school and extracurricular activities, and residents are stockpiling sandbags in preparation for the anticipated downpour.
Heavy rains have already begun affecting various regions, notably causing considerable flooding in Almería province, where emergency services had to rescue stranded individuals. The Spanish weather agency has strongly advised residents in high-alert areas to maintain a safe distance from potentially hazardous waterways.
King Felipe VI is scheduled to visit a military base in Bétera, Valencia, where search operations and cleanup efforts are ongoing. Previous interactions with local leaders during his earlier visits have sparked tension, as frustrations grow over perceived inadequacies in the government's response to the recent disasters.
Meteorologists note that Dana weather systems typically manifest 10 to 20 times each year in the Mediterranean but caution that the upcoming storm, though potent, will not be as severe as the previous incident. The heaviest rainfall, particularly around Málaga and Granada, could amount to 180mm in just a few days. Snowfall is also anticipated in the Cantabrian and Sierra Morena mountains, compounded by strong winds.
As Spain navigates this precarious situation, residents remain vigilant, bracing for the impact of another potentially devastating weather event.
