Both Spain and Italy are under a state of alert as severe weather hits Malaga, southern Taragoza as well as Sicily.
Malaga and the southern sector of Taragona are on red alert. Last night 3,000 people were evacuated last night, and more residents of the province were evacuated today. Authorities estimate that the alert will remain at the same level until at least midnight.
The heavy rainfall has caused flooding on some roads, while similar problems exist in certain parts of the Clínico Hospital, where workers are removing water.
Shortly before two o’clock in the afternoon (local time) the AVE high-speed train between Malaga and Madrid stopped running. Shortly afterwards, a station in Malaga was evacuated while the city council suspended the operation of municipal buses.
In Taragoza, the red alert will last until 22:00 (local time). Activity has been kept to a minimum and several roads and highways have been affected.
An orange rain warning has been issued for other areas of Andalusia, Catalonia and Valencia. The regional government of Valencia has restricted private traffic in the municipalities of the Valencia zero zone until Thursday.
A yellow warning for rain, thunderstorms, snow or sea disturbance has been issued for Asturias, Castilla, Leon, Galicia and Murcia.
Over 40 liters per square meter in half an hour
The Meteorological Service of Catalonia (Meteocat) has raised to red ((level 5 on a scale of 6) the alert for rain intensity in the Baix Ebre and Montsià areas, in Terres de l’Ebre.
Catalonia is preparing for continuous and heavy rainfall, which may, by 18:00 in the afternoon, exceed the limit of 40 liters per square meter in half an hour. According to Meteocat, the extreme north of Catalonia is also on alert, in this case orange, due to the possibility of heavy rainfall in the Alt and Baix Empordà areas.
Health centers have closed their doors
The health centers under the health region of Malaga-Guadalhorce have closed their doors due to the storm. Emergency points remained open, according to the Health Delegation of the Andalusian Regional Government’s Health Delegation.
Similarly, the Hospital Clínico de Málaga has activated its flood emergency plan. It will now only operate for emergencies. Spanish media report that the Clinical Analysis Laboratory and some areas of the parking lot were most affected. Meanwhile, a health center in a Madrid district has been evacuated, while emergency services of a health center of the municipality of Malaga have been transferred.
Cars towed in Sicily
In Sicily, floodwaters swept away cars in Torre Archirafi, Sicily on Wednesday, even driving some of them into the sea.
The flooding is the result of drenching rains in Sicily that turned streets into rivers in the town near Catania.
Residents in the area submitted more than 30 requests for assistance to emergency services. So far there have been no reports of missing people due to the extreme weather, Italian news agency Ansa reports.
Firefighters rescued several drivers who were trapped in their cars by flooding in the town of Aci Sant’Antonio. Another person was rescued by emergency services after his house was flooded in Acireale.
In the town of Altarello, firefighters use an amphibious vehicle to rescue four people, including two disabled people, after the ground floor of a house was flooded.
Scientists argue that the climate crisis, caused by human emissions of greenhouse gases, is making extreme weather events – such as heat waves, droughts, storms and floods – more frequent and more intense.
Italy has experienced a number of extreme weather events in recent years, however this year southern regions of the country, such as Sicily, are suffering from heavy rainfall and even tornadoes.
