Torrential rains from Storm Francis have triggered widespread flooding across southern Spain, with the province of Málaga bearing the brunt of the damage. The Guadalhorce River overflowed in Cártama, inundating homes and farmland, and prompting preventative evacuations.
Andalusia Battles Historic Flooding as Storm Francis Unleashes Fury
Severe weather has impacted Málaga, Cádiz, and Huelva provinces, forcing families from their homes and disrupting transportation networks.
- The Guadalhorce River in Málaga province reached over 4 meters, causing significant flooding in Cártama.
- Eight families spent the night in a municipal reception centre as floodwaters entered their homes.
- The provinces of Cádiz and Huelva also experienced widespread disruption due to flooded streets, landslides, and damage to coastal areas.
- Authorities have issued red alerts and activated flood risk plans in response to the extreme weather.
The most significant impact has been felt in the province of Málaga. In Estepona, reports indicate flooding, landslides, fallen trees, and road obstructions. The Guadalhorce River overflowed, reaching levels exceeding 4 meters in Cártama, forcing eight families to seek refuge in a municipal reception center. Emergency services are working to clear debris and restore access to affected areas.
The province of Cádiz is also grappling with the storm’s impact. The 112 emergency service responded to dozens of calls regarding flooded streets, waterlogged homes, and stranded vehicles. Affected municipalities include Algeciras,Jerez de la Frontera,Tarifa,Vejer,and Los Barrios. Los Barrios saw over ten emergency calls, including the evacuation of a person with two dogs from the Benharás area and the rescue of two adults and three minors from a flooded house near a waste collection center.
In Jimena de la Frontera, flooding of the Hozgarganta stream isolated between 10 and 15 homes and a rural hotel, necessitating Red Cross intervention. Around 30 people where temporarily stranded in the Pasada Honda area of Saint Roch. the adverse weather also extended to the Huelva coast, where Matalascanas suffered significant damage to its seafront, which has been cordoned off as a safety precaution.
Responding to the deteriorating conditions, the Andalusia Emergency Agency (EMA) issued an Es-Alert message to 27 municipalities in the sol and Guadalhorce comarca. This followed the Spanish Meteorological Agency (AEMET) elevating the rain warning to a red level, indicating remarkable danger.Together, the Junta de Andalucía activated the emergency phase, operational level 1, of the Flood Risk Plan.
