Thousands of residents in Málaga and surrounding areas have been ordered to evacuate as Spain braces for severe weather conditions, including heavy rainfall and flooding. A red weather alert was activated by Spain's Civil Protection Agency on Tuesday, signaling an "extreme risk of rainfall" across the Costa del Sol region. The city of Málaga, along with popular tourist destinations such as Marbella and Estepona, anticipates being heavily affected by the latest inclement weather induced by a system known as "Dana".
In light of the warnings, schools throughout Málaga province have been shut down, and numerous supermarkets are closed in preparation for the forecasted torrential rains and cooler temperatures. Officials have identified specific areas vulnerable to flooding, particularly those along the banks of the Guadalhorce River, urging about 3,000 residents to vacate their homes. Antonio Sanz, the Regional Minister of the Presidency, clarified that only targeted areas are being evacuated, not entire towns.
The severe weather has also impacted sporting events, causing the postponement of the Billie Jean King Cup match between Spain and Poland originally scheduled in Málaga. Meanwhile, different regions across Spain are on alert for additional dangers due to the anticipated heavy rains. Parts of Valencia and the Balearic Islands are currently on orange alert, indicating expected storms that could be “very strong to torrential.”
Though the second Dana weather system is set to hit, experts believe it will not mirror the devastation caused by the earlier storm at the end of October, which resulted in significant loss of life and infrastructure damage. In recent recovery efforts, the search concluded for two young brothers swept away in the Valencia floods, with their bodies recovered, highlighting the grim consequences of the recent weather disasters.
These Dana storms can persist over a location for several days when they become cut off from the main flow of the jet stream and can unleash significant rainfall when warm air from the Mediterranean interacts with colder air in higher atmospheric layers. With several areas remaining vulnerable, Spain continues to grapple with the realities of these dangerous weather patterns.
