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The state of the Fuengirola road in Alhaurín el Grande after La Tejá stream overflowed.
Junta releases 75 million euros to repair storm damage across Andalucía

Junta releases 75 million euros to repair storm damage across Andalucía

The worst-hit areas by the Dana storm last weekend in Malaga province were Alhaurín el Grande and Villanueva del Trabuco

IGNACIO LILLO / FERNANDO TORRES

Friday, 20 September 2019, 10:57

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The Junta de Andalucía has released a sum of 75 million euros to help clean up and repair damage caused by the 'Dana' storm last weekend.

The funds will be shared by the provinces of Almeria, Granada and Malaga and will go towards repairing roads and other infrastructure. Ten million of the total will be distributed among affected town halls.

Inland areas of the province of Malaga were cleaning up last weekend after storms brought heavy rain and flash flooding in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The sudden downpours were the result of the 'Dana' weather phenomenon - an isolated pocket of cold air that breaks away from main weather systems, termed a cut-off low - which crossed Spain at the end of last week, leaving widespread flooding.

The worst damage in this province was suffered in the Guadalhorce valley - especially Alhaurín el Grande - and the area around Villanueva del Trabuco in the northern Noroma district.

In the early hours of Saturday the Spanish meteorology agency Aemet raised the amber warning to red as the storms approached.

Alhaurín el Grande

The sudden downpours caused flash floods in several towns and villages. Alhaurín el Grande, where 146mm of rainfall were recorded, was the first to see serious difficulties as the force of the water dragged with it dozens of parked vehicles. Several homes were flooded in the area known as Camino de Coín.

No injuries were reported, but the material damage was substantial. Mayor of Alhaurín el Grande Toñi Ledesma explained that much of the damage was caused to municipal facilities. Both football pitches have been "seriously" affected and three schools suffered damage.

The Fuengirola road was closed after La Tejá stream broke its banks.

Alhaurín was visited on Sunday by the president of the Junta de Andalucía, Juanma Moreno, who announced that on Tuesday emergency funds would be released to help the 133 towns across Andalucía affected by the storms.

Villanueva del Trabuco

In the northern district of Noroma, Villanueva del Trabuco and Archidona suffered flooding on Saturday morning. In Villanueva del Trabuco around 15 vehicles were dragged along by the water when a stream running through the upper part of the town overflowed.

Dozens of locals joined the fire brigade and other services to help clear the streets and some houses of mud on Saturday morning.

Juanma Moreno went to the town on Saturday, where he praised the work of the volunteers.

Other areas

Several homes were cut off on Saturday in the Tajo del Abanico area of Ronda.

In Marbella two people had to be rescued after becoming trapped in their vehicles. Avenida Severo Ochoa was closed for around an hour due to flooding.

In Malaga city a hundred-year-old tree was struck by lightning and part of the trunk crushed parked cars.

Weddings were held in the main Cathedral for the first time in 30 years, after damage was caused to the next door Sagrario chapel.

More than 40 families were cut off in the Cortijada Arroyo Pataseca area of Vélez-Málaga after the access road to their houses was flooded.

The Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros - a state insurance body that steps in in cases of natural disasters - estimated the damage in the province of Malaga at four million euros. Some 800 people were affected in Alhaurín el Grande, Cártama, Coín, Alhaurín de la Torre, Torremolinos and Villanueva del Trabuco, it calculated on Sunday.

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