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Civil defence workers help the clear-up outside a school in inland Malaga province.
Clear-up continues after record rain in parts of Malaga province last weekend

Clear-up continues after record rain in parts of Malaga province last weekend

The freak storm left one firefighter dead and a trail of damage from inland, west of Antequera, through Ronda and to the coast around Estepona

SUR

Friday, 26 October 2018, 08:57

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A huge swathe of northern and western Malaga province was slowly starting to get back to normal this week after record-breaking rainfall fell between late last Saturday night, 20 October, and into most of Sunday.

While heavy rain had been forecast, this had been expected earlier in the day in coastal areas, where there had been a high-risk weather warning in place at lunchtime on Saturday. So when the cloudburst came on Saturday evening, starting inland, it took many by surprise.

First to report flooding around midnight were the towns of Campillos and Teba to the west of Antequera, in the north of the province. The towns' mayors frantically warned residents over social media to stay indoors or not to travel home as access roads were cut off. Pleas were made for people with tractors or boats to come forward. In Campillos the Blanquillo stream overflowed and the local health centre flooded. There was also flooding in the Bobadilla area towards Antequera.

Hundreds of residents in the affected areas had to leave and were unable to return to their homes.

Fireman killed

A fireman from Antequera was reported missing just before midnight between Campillos and Sierra de Yeguas. His body was found later on Sunday swept along by the water some seven kilometres away.

As the rain continued through the night, it was clear that more towns and villages were being seriously affected as the rain moved southwestwards. By daybreak on Sunday, villages including Ardales and El Burgo were reporting power cuts, road closures and damage from torrents of water or rising streams.

Ardales recorded the highest rainfall ever measured in 24 hours in Malaga province. 396mm fell on Sunday alone with 309mm of that falling within just 12 hours.

As Sunday continued the rain moved westwards and southwards, causing damage in Ronda. Here the river in the famous Tajo gorge was bursting with water and walls fell, including the retaining wall on the historic Arab baths in the town which were flooded. Fortunately, first reports afterwards said they could be saved with minimal damage caused.

Nearby villages in the Serranía de Ronda got hit by the downpour before the pocket of low pressure creating the rainfall reached Estepona on the coast, flooding parts of the town centre and swelling rivers in rural areas.

Local rural roads were closed here as well as neighbouring Casares and Manilva. The Guadalmansa and Padrón rivers soon burst their banks, stopping access and power to some housing areas. Some 2,000 residents in the Forest Hill area were cut off all day. Estepona's port quaysides also flooded.

Aftermath

A coordinated rescue effort began in full force on Sunday extending into this week. The Junta de Andalucía activated its emergency plan and troops were called in to help. Roads remained cut off and schools closed on Monday in those areas affected.

Politicians visited the area from Sunday morning, promising to work fast to repair damage and to provide aid.

President of the Junta de Andaluciá regional government, Susana Díaz, and the president of the Malaga Diputación provincial authority, Elias Bendodo, visited many of the areas worst affected as well as the coordination post at Antequera, and offered condolences to the family of the fireman who had been killed. King Felipe VI called local leaders to express his concerns.

The rain also affected towns and villages in adjoining Seville province. Train services between Malaga and Seville were interrupted and a large metal railway bridge was swept away at Aguadulce in Seville province in addition to damage to tracks on the Malaga side of the border.

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