Málaga evacuates thousands as Spain issues more flood alerts

In the Costa del Sol region of southern Spain, thousands of residents have been forced to evacuate their homes due to a severe weather alert for extreme rainfall and potential flooding. The Civil Protection Agency of Spain issued a mass alert to mobile phones in Málaga province late Tuesday evening, warning of an 'extreme risk of rainfall. ' This area, which includes popular tourist destinations such as Marbella, Velez, and Estepona, is expected to experience the worst effects of a weather phenomenon known as a 'Dana. ' This comes just weeks after the Valencia region suffered devastating floods that resulted in the tragic loss of over 220 lives. Other regions in Spain are also on alert as this new weather front is anticipated to bring heavy rain and cooler temperatures. The northeastern region of Catalonia, particularly the coastal area near Tarragona, has also been placed under a red alert until Wednesday evening. In response to the severe weather, all schools in Málaga have been closed, and many supermarkets have chosen to remain shut. Approximately 3,000 residents living near the Guadalhorce River have been instructed to evacuate their homes, according to the Regional Government of Andalusia. Antonio Sanz, the Minister of the Presidency for the regional government, stated, 'We have not evacuated entire towns, but rather specific areas linked to the riverbank. ' This decision has been communicated to the national government to ensure collaboration with state security forces. The severe weather alert in Málaga has also impacted a scheduled tennis match, as the International Tennis Federation announced that the opening tie would not take place due to the weather conditions. On Wednesday, heavy rain continued to fall in Málaga, with images showing individuals outside the Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena Arena, struggling to stay dry under umbrellas. Spain's meteorological agency, Aemet, has placed parts of Valencia and Andalusia, along with the Balearic Islands, on orange alert until Thursday. This orange alert indicates a significant meteorological event that poses a danger to normal activities, with warnings of rainfall and storms that could be 'very strong to torrential. ' In Valencia, schools and sports activities have been suspended in certain areas, and sandbags have been placed to protect the town of Aldaia. While this second Dana weather system is serious, it is not expected to be as catastrophic as the red alert issued on October 29, when the Valencia region experienced unprecedented loss of life and property damage. The search for two young boys, Izan and Rubén Matías, who were lost during the previous storm, has been a heartbreaking aspect of this tragedy. Their bodies were recently recovered, and their family is mourning their loss. Their aunt, Barbara Sastre, confirmed the sad news, stating, 'My little angels, we have finally found you. ' The family is grateful for the support they have received during this difficult time, with volunteers from various regions of Spain joining recovery specialists from Mexico. The Dana weather system occurs when an area of low pressure becomes isolated from the main flow of the jet stream, causing persistent rainfall over several days. This phenomenon is intensified when colder air in the atmosphere meets warmer air from the Mediterranean Sea.