Recent storms in Spain have once again wreaked havoc, leading to school closures and train cancellations. This comes just two weeks after flash floods devastated Valencia and claimed the lives of over 220 people while destroying numerous homes.
Coastal areas of Valencia were placed on high alert as forecasters predicted heavy rainfall of up to 7 inches within a span of five hours. Cleanup operations in the hardest-hit areas of Valencia from the previous storm were still underway, with concerns looming over the impact of additional rain on streets covered in mud and debris.
In southern Malaga province, streets were flooded, prompting the evacuation of 3,000 individuals near the Guadalhorce river as a precautionary measure. Schools and many businesses in the province remained closed, and train services between Malaga and Madrid, as well as Barcelona and Valencia, were suspended.
Valencia's regional government imposed restrictions on private vehicle usage in areas affected by the October storm, which led to significant car pile-ups during the previous flooding event. Fortunately, there have been no reports of fatalities resulting from the latest storms.
The Spanish weather forecaster AEMET issued a red alert for Malaga, citing an accumulation of approximately 3 inches of rain in just one hour. Parts of Tarragona province in the east also faced heavy rainfall and remained under a red alert status.
The adverse weather conditions in Malaga even impacted the commencement of the Billie Jean King Cup tennis finals between Spain and Poland, which was scheduled for Wednesday. The storm system affecting Spain is attributed to the collision of warm and stagnant cold air masses, resulting in the formation of powerful rain clouds.
Experts have highlighted that drought and flood cycles are intensifying due to climate change, underscoring the need for proactive measures to mitigate the impact of such extreme weather events.
