Severe storms and flooding force mass evacuations in Southern Spain

Thousands of people were evacuated from their homes in the Costa del Sol region in southern Spain due to heavy rainfall and flooding. The Spanish National Meteorological Agency (Aemet) issued the highest alert for the Malaga and northeastern Catalonia regions, expecting severe rainfall to continue until Friday. The Malaga area, which includes tourist centers such as Marbella, Velez, and Estepona, is expected to be most affected by the extreme weather event known as 'DANA.' Some regions in Valencia were also placed on the highest alert weeks ago, following flash floods that led to over 220 deaths. Other parts of Spain are expecting heavy showers and low temperatures. Meteorologists predict up to 180 millimeters of rain in Catalonia's northeastern region within the next 12 hours, with thunderstorms expected along the coastline near Tarragona. Schools across the entire Malaga province in southern Spain were closed, and many supermarkets shut their doors. Images circulating on social media showed normally crowded areas of the city submerged in water and deserted. he Andalusian Regional Government has instructed about 3,000 residents near the Guadalhorce River to evacuate their homes. Antonio Sanz, the Minister for the Presidency of the regional government, stated, 'We have not evacuated all towns, only specific areas near the riverbanks.' Aemet has issued an orange alert for parts of Andalusia and the Balearic Islands through Thursday. Other regions in Spain are also taking precautions, with the most vulnerable areas being the eastern and southern Mediterranean regions. An orange alert indicates a significant meteorological event with a 'dangerous level for normal activities.' In Valencia, some schools and sports activities were suspended, and sandbags were piled up to protect the center of Aldaia town. Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization, spoke at the opening of the COP29 Climate Summit, stating that the recent flooding in Spain sends a powerful message to the world. 'The incredible amount of rain in Spain was a warning about how much more water a warmer atmosphere can hold,' she said.