Spain: Torrential Rains Trigger Severe Flooding in Cártama, Málaga

In Cártama, in Málaga’s Guadalhorce Valley, torrential rain caused flooding on Saturday evening, December 27. The rapidly rising Guadalhorce River flooded streets and homes in the Aljaima, Doña Ana and Estación de Cártama districts, forcing residents to stay on alert overnight and take measures to protect their properties. Some residents were relocated after their homes were inundated. The river reached a record level overnight, peaking at 5.7 meters with a flow of more than 1,000 cubic meters per second, triggering a red alert. Water levels fell by more than 60 percent by Sunday morning, easing conditions locally, although yellow alerts remain in place upstream. Several other rivers in the province also saw rising levels but have since moved out of danger thresholds as emergency services and residents work to return to normal.