Else Beekman
Drivers on the A-7 motorway between Marbella and Estepona were caught off guard this Monday morning as a sudden downpour turned the road into a virtual river. Vehicles were seen ploughing through deep water, with waves rising above the wheels, creating dangerous conditions during the peak rush hour.
While the rain has brought much-needed water to the region, which is suffering from a severe drought, it also caused disruptions, with more rain expected in the coming days.
The torrential rain, which started around 7.30 am, lasted for about 40 minutes, causing significant flooding along a key stretch of the motorway between Cancelada and San Pedro Alcántara. According to data from the Junta de Andalucía’s Hidrosur network, 27 litres of rain per square metre fell in just one hour, close to the 30 l/m² threshold that would have triggered an orange weather alert.
Stranded vehicles
The heavy rain caused several vehicles to become temporarily stranded, though most managed to continue once the water receded. Local resident and amateur meteorologist Salvador Guzmán, who witnessed the scene, reported in Sur: “It was like driving through a lake. The water was so deep it covered the wheels of the cars.” He added that the deluge made him decide not to drive further for fear of getting trapped.
Motorists warned as further rain expected
Maintenance workers quickly responded by closing off flooded lanes with cones, reducing the motorway to a single passable lane. The intense downpour added to the cumulative rainfall in the area, with the nearby Guadalmansa reservoir recording 50.3 l/m² over the course of the day, and surrounding areas like Pujerra and Ronda also seeing significant rainfall.