Rain causes floods in Andalusia

On February 15th 2010 a severe storm occurred in the South of Andalucía (Spain). It has represented one of the most important one over the last fifteen years. The Mediterranean coast and the Guadalhorce valley (Malaga Province) were particularly affected.

Although the storm was not particularly intense (maximum hourly intensities within the basin of 12mm/h), it lasted long enough to produce significant damages in the entire region. It started raining on the 15th at 8:00 am and ended 24 hours later. During this period over 200 mm were accumulated in the vicinity of Malaga, which resulted in flooding of parts of the city and road submersions. The most impressive pictures were taken in Alhaurin de la Torre (the 24 hour accumulations reached 215 mm -a third of the average yearly accumulation-), in Coin (126 mm), and in the city centre of Malaga (103 mm).

The rescue services performed over 300 actions associated to rain and flooding. The actions were related to flooding of homes and garages, fallen trees, rescuing people trapped by floods and landslides in roads. The most serious situation occurred in the Guadalhorce Valley, where emergency personnel and security forces, with the help of helicopters, rescued thirty people after being trapped in their homes.

The Poligono urban area close to Malaga.

Intervention of the rescue services in Alhaurin de la Torre.

Flooded house in Alhaurin de la Torre.

Intervention of the rescue services in Alhaurin de la Torre with the help of helicopters.

Flooded road in the center of Arroyo de los Angeles.

The Guadaiza river in Marbella.

Photo source: http://comunidad.laopiniondemalaga.es/galeria-multimedia/Deportes/Efectos-temporal-Malaga/11354/135.html