WITH another DANA storm system causing torrential rain over Málaga province, Granada province, and the Valencia region again, Spanish authorities are applying caution, even in Yellow warning areas. Granada is on Orange warning and Málaga red until midnight tonight.
With around 3,000 residents evacuated from around the Guadalhorce river area of Málaga, front doors boarded over to prevent water entering, day care centres and schools closed, and public sector workers told to stay at home, there is a tangible effort not to repeat the failings of Valencia.
In the previous DANA, on 29 October, the Red weather warning from state meterological agency, AEMET, was communicated too late to local government and municipalities for swift action to be taken. This time, residents are receiving phone alerts and being urged to protect themselves and their property.
An air of caution
Even in Yellow warning areas, some municpalities have cancelled school. in La Alpujarra, which is under Yellow warning, pupils were told to disembark the school bus to Órgiva, directly after boarding at 7.50hrs, because of the risk with travel after the storm started, although the actual rainfall may not have merited it.
Although the school was open, teachers and pupils could opt not to attend.
Chaos in Málaga
According to the X (formerly Twitter) page, Storm Málaga, problms are already evident – with inundated streets, rising river levels, and cars on the point of floating. Some motorists took the precautions of wrapping their cars in plastic and tethering them to lamposts last night.
#Málaga #AlertaProtecciónCivilMLG pic.twitter.com/jsfYnfNqSW
— Storm Málaga (@Storm_Malaga) November 13, 2024
#Málaga #AlertaProtecciónCivilMLG pic.twitter.com/p74uyd99TQ
— Storm Málaga (@Storm_Malaga) November 13, 2024
Málaga Airport has some delays
Over at Málaga Airport – which is near to Guadalhorce and the flood plain – there was a focus on “normality” this morning. However, many flights during the early afternoon were delayed and some cancelled. Others have reportedly been stuck in holding patterns. Some flights were diverted to Seville.
Passengers are advised to check information from their airline before travel. You can view current ground conditions on the airport’s weather cam.
Trains are cancelled
Train services have also been disrupted in Málaga.
📢 #InfoDeServicio @Adif_es informa del desalojo de la Estación María Zambrano de #Málaga capital, la zona del vestíbulo y los andenes.
➡️ Se ha interrumpido la circulación de trenes 🚈 AVE (trayecto Antequera-Málaga)
📸 @opiniondemalaga pic.twitter.com/BNkiRE98Aa
— Emergencias 112 (@E112Andalucia) November 13, 2024
A shorter DANA
Although this second DANA is an unwelcome phenomena, it is likely to be shorter-lived with weather returning to more tranquil patterns by Thursday daytime. Let’s hope not to have a third round.