In Jimena de la Frontera, a town in Cádiz, severe weather triggered by a DANA on Thursday led to dramatic rescues and warnings for local residents. As the Guadiaro River breached its banks, six individuals became trapped on the roof of a house near San Pablo de Buceite. Additionally, a group of schoolchildren required emergency evacuation after their school building was flooded.
The situation unfolded as the weather service, AEMET, initially issued a yellow alert for the area. With rainfall reaching over 76 litres per square metre by late morning on Thursday, conditions quickly worsened. The rescue alert was raised around 12.25 pm when emergency calls reported residents stranded on rooftops at Cortijo El Esparragal. In response, Andalucía’s 112 emergency service deployed eight firefighters and four vehicles from the Cádiz Fire Consortium to manage rescues and provide medical aid. The team successfully evacuated one individual taking refuge on a rooftop. Furthermore, they rescued five others who had climbed up to escape the rising waters.
Ongoing risk
Local authorities are responding to the ongoing risk as flooding continues to impact Jimena de la Frontera and surrounding areas. Mayor Francisco José Gómez addressed residents, advising those living near the Guadiaro River to take precautions and prepare for evacuation if necessary. “We are informing locals in proximity to the river to evacuate their homes preemptively due to the significant rise in water levels,” he stated. He urged residents to avoid travel near the river and to contact 112 for emergency support if needed.
Question marks about inicial classification of risk level
Thursday morning’s yellow alert, which was raised to orange in response to the worsening conditions, has left officials questioning the initial classification of the risk level. According to Mayor Gómez, the lower alert status allowed regular activities to proceed throughout the town, although residents exercised caution. Jimena de la Frontera and other parts of Cádiz continue to face the aftermath of the DANA’s impact. Meanwhile, local authorities remain on high alert with orange alerts still active and damage assessments ongoing.