A sudden downpour has hit the Almeria province, leading to flash floods that required emergency rescues and caused widespread disruption across multiple municipalities. The heavy rain, which saw up to 70 litres per square metre fall in just a few minutes, has left streets submerged and residents scrambling to assess the damage.
The most dramatic scenes unfolded in the town of Vícar, where three individuals were rescued from their vehicles after being swept away by a flash flood in the Rambla de la Culebra. According to 112 Emergency Services in Andalucia, the victims had been trapped under a bridge but were rescued without injuries. Their vehicles, parked in the riverbed before the surge, were caught in the rising waters.
Rambla El Parador en el limite de nuestro pueblo . ¡Ahora mismo!@DatosAlmeria @lavozdealmeria @DiarioDAlmeria @ndealmeria #Almeria #Dana pic.twitter.com/uT7fYx8Nt4
— Aguadulce Municipio (@Aguadulceenmar2) November 11, 2024
Local emergency services were kept busy, managing around forty incidents across the western part of Almeria and the provincial capital. The towns of El Ejido, Roquetas de Mar, Vícar, Almeria City, and Balanegra have been particularly affected by flooded homes, commercial properties, and roadways. Accumulations of water on major routes, including the A-7 motorway and local roads like the AL-3303, forced closures and detours as crews worked to restore safe conditions.
Balanegra mayor assesses damage
Nuria Rodríguez, mayor of Balanegra, stated that the floodwaters arriving from Dalías caused a sharp rise in water levels in local streams, leading to temporary road closures and damage to rural paths. “We were quite worried at first with so much water coming down. However, now the situation has stabilised. Currently, we are assessing the material damages, which, fortunately, seem to be limited to pathways and rural access roads,” Rodríguez said.
Dalías’ mayor, Francisco Lirola, echoed similar sentiments, adding that rain had subsided and the situation was “more tranquil.” Though agricultural areas suffered, with some 20 hectares damaged, he credited a newly constructed containment basin for preventing more widespread flooding.
Precautions and further alerts
Authorities across affected towns have advised residents to avoid unnecessary travel and to stay away from rivers and low-lying areas. The local government has also activated emergency plans in response to the alert status being upgraded to orange by the Spanish Meteorological Agency (Aemet). Consequently, this indicates a significant risk of further heavy rainfall and storms.
The forecast remains concerning, with meteorologists predicting more severe weather across Almeria and other regions like Málaga by Wednesday, raising fears of further flooding. As a precaution, officials in Roquetas de Mar have asked residents to limit movement. The message is, “If you can, stay at home. Intense rain can lead to sudden and dangerous flooding.” And make sure you have activated ES-Alert on your smartphones.