Spain is on high alert as heavy rainfall and extreme weather conditions, fueled by a DANA (Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos) or “cut-off low,” continue to devastate parts of the country, particularly the Costa del Sol and the provinces of Malaga, Valencia, and Tarragona, according to the Mirror.
The Spanish Civil Protection Agency issued Málaga an emergency red alert on Tuesday night, signaling “extreme risk” and urging residents to avoid travel. Thousands of residents and tourists in these popular coastal areas face intensified warnings as the storm persists, with Spain’s weather agency predicting ongoing heavy rainfall until at least Friday.
Around 3,000 people were evacuated from their homes along the Guadalhorce River, where flooding had already caused severe damage two weeks ago, leading to the tragic death of a British expatriate, Anadolu Agency reported.
Images from affected areas, including Marbella and Estepona, show residents preparing for the worst, placing sandbags, boarding up doors, and stockpiling essentials. In response to the red alert, schools across Málaga, Granada’s coast, and parts of Valencia have closed as a precautionary measure, affecting thousands of students.
This is the second severe storm to hit Spain in just two weeks, and residents in Valencia are still reeling from the last DANA, which led to catastrophic flash floods and the loss of at least 223 lives, AA added.
Heavy floods in Spain’s Valencia region killed five Moroccans and left ten others missing, according to the Consulate General of Morocco on Friday.
Morocco sent on Wednesday relief teams and provided necessary aid to support Spain’s response to the disaster.
Although Valencia is expected to receive lighter rain during this DANA wave, many areas have blocked sewage systems and unresolved flood damage that could exacerbate the current threat. The latest red alerts in Tarragona have also led to road closures, train service suspensions, and additional evacuations in at-risk areas.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, speaking at COP29, highlighted the impact of climate change on the increased frequency and intensity of such natural disasters, warning, “Climate change kills.” Sánchez called for urgent global action on greenhouse gas emissions to help prevent similar tragedies in the future.
In a bid to prevent further devastation, authorities have implemented preventative measures across all affected regions, which contrast with the slower response seen two weeks prior in Valencia.
Residents of Málaga received a mass alert on their mobile phones on Tuesday night warning of the extreme risk, marking an effort by Spain’s Civil Protection Agency to ensure people are prepared for potential hazards.
Coastal residents have also wrapped their cars in protective plastic sheeting, while those who have evacuated without access to friends or family have found refuge in temporary shelters, including local sports centers.
Following last week’s disastrous flood in Valencia, Spain has deployed over 15,000 military officials and national police to aid with search and rescue operations, restore critical services, and safeguard the area.
Last week, nearly 130,000 Spaniards marched through the streets of Valencia to protest the government’s handling of recent disastrous floods by local authorities.