Eastern Spain is enduring a second day of very heavy rain that’s already left areas loved by tourists looking like natural disaster zones.
Multiple videos have been posted online showing flooded streets,ravines turned into rivers and vehicles with water up to the windows.
Numerous municipalities in alicante saw more than 100 litres of rain per square metre fall on Thursday, and much more precipitation is expected for the coming hours.Most red weather alerts will remain in place until midnight on Friday. Many residents and holidaymakers in this part of spain have been receiving SMS warnings to their phones from the government’s ES-Alert system alerting them of incoming downpours.
A 20-minute downpour in Elche flooded streets and swept away cars and rubbish containers.
Other parts of Alicante with large foreign populations such as Vega Baja, Torrevieja and Orihuela have also been hit by more than 60 litres of rain/sqm.
Alcàsser, Gandía and Cullera were among the worst hit towns in the neighbouring Valencia province, which wasn’t spared either.
Storm Alice Brings Severe flooding and Evacuations to Southeastern Spain
updated October 31, 2024 – Southeastern Spain is grappling with severe weather as Storm Alice unleashes torrential rainfall, leading to red and orange weather alerts, evacuations, and widespread disruption.
Current Warnings: As of today,October 31st,red weather warnings – indicating “remarkable danger” – are in affect for southern Alicante and Cartagena in the Murcia region. Orange warnings, signifying significant risk, cover the province of Valencia and inland areas of Murcia. These warnings indicate a high probability of torrential rainfall and accumulated rainfall exceeding 100 litres per square metre in some areas. https://www.thelocal.es/20241031/what-do-spains-yellow-orange-and-red-weather-alerts-mean
Evacuations and Impact: Cartagena City Council reports that approximately 67 people have been evacuated, primarily from the Villas Caravaning campsite in La Manga, as well as the Bahía Bella and Algameca Chica areas. The storm has already caused road closures, delays to commuter train services, and numerous other incidents. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported thus far.
(See embedded Facebook videos for visual updates on the situation)
The red alert has been in place since 10:00 AM on Friday, October 27th, for the southern coast of Alicante and the Campo de Cartagena in Murcia. The Spanish national weather agency, Aemet, has described the situation as posing an “extraordinary” flood risk.
School Closures and Public Safety: School classes have been suspended in multiple towns and cities across the Valencia and Murcia regions.
Murcian regional president fernando López Miras has urged residents to exercise extreme caution and avoid unnecessary travel. “Everyone’s caution and responsibility are very significant. Don’t leave your home, don’t travel by car, and don’t do any type of movement that isn’t strictly necessary,” he stated from the cartagena security center. He emphasized the importance of monitoring official information channels and assured the public that all municipal and regional emergency services are fully prepared to respond.
Ongoing Situation: The red alert for Cartagena,the Mar Menor area,and Mazarrón is expected to remain in effect until Saturday. Residents are advised to stay informed and heed the warnings issued by local authorities.