Heavy rainfall has resulted in significant flash floods in southern Spain, prompting the relocation of residents from 365 houses in Campanillas, close to Málaga. Local authorities have closed off several roads and halted lessons at eight educational institutions within the area. Water levels are still escalating, with nineteen rivers remaining under high alert, posing potential for additional destruction.
The storm named after Laurence moved rapidly across the region during the night, dumping approximately 100 millimeters of rain along with winds reaching speeds of up to 90 kilometers per hour. Areas most severely affected were those within the Guadalhorce Valley, particularly where the Campanillas River broke its banks and inundated numerous streets. Additionally, other waterways like the Turón and the Guadalhorce experienced breaches leading to portions of both Cártama and Almogía being underwater.
The authorities are keeping a close watch on the Casasola dam, as it currently holds 25 million cubic meters of water, surpassing its intended limit of 22 million cubic meters. In an effort to avoid damaging the structure, they've started releasing water in a regulated manner into the Campanillas River, thereby raising the possibility of flooding further downriver.
Scientists and authorities link the severe weather conditions to climate change, which has exacerbated Spain's pattern of extended dry spells followed by intense, destructive rainfall. As reservoirs approach dangerously low levels and infrastructure faces strain, specialists caution that these meteorological occurrences might occur with greater regularity in the future.
Emergency services are still on high alert as they startcleanup efforts, while those who were forced from their homes look for refuge and evaluate the destruction. Authorities have advised everyone to stay cautious since water levels in the rivers keep changing unpredictably, indicating that more people might need to evacuate.