A young girl rides a public service bicycle in the rain in Valencia, Spain, 13 November 2024. Dozens of municipalities in Valencia devastated by the DANA (high-altitude isolated depression) are facing the threat of a new DANA, in the midst of the unprecedented deployment of emergency and solidarity aid, which has forced the suspension of classes and further conditions the enormous work to attend to the countless calls for help that emerge from each neighbourhood, industrial estate or school, in many cases still covered in mud EFE/Biel Aliño

Spain braces for more torrential rains two weeks after deadly floods

Madrid, Nov 13 (EFE).- Spain issued a severe weather warning Wednesday as torrential rains threaten eight provinces, with Andalusia and Catalonia facing the highest risk after floods claimed over 220 lives just two weeks ago in Valencia and other areas.

The National Meteorological Agency (Aemet) has placed the provinces of Malaga and Tarragona under a red alert (extreme risk), forecasting up to 120 liters of rainfall per square meter within 12 hours in some areas, with Tarragona potentially receiving up to 180 liters.

Firefighters from Malaga city (southern Spain) work to clean up the flood-hit city of Catarroja, province of Valencia, eastern Spain, 13 November 2024. EFE/Manuel Bruque

In Malaga, regions including Sol, Guadalhorce, and Axarquia are expected to bear the brunt, while the city of Antequera may see accumulations reaching 100 liters per square meter within 12 hours.

On Tuesday night, nearly 3,000 people were evacuated from areas near the Guadalhorce River as a precaution against potential flooding.

Two technicians assess the state of the bridge in the Valencian town of Riba-roja in the rain., in Valencia, Spain, 13 November 2024. EFE/ Kai Försterling

The flooding in Spain two weeks ago claimed at least 223 lives while several people are still missing, marking one of the worst disasters in the country.

The heavy rains have led to the suspension of school classes in both Malaga and various districts in Tarragona, with authorities closely monitoring the situation to ensure public safety.

Two locals talk to one of the operators who work to unblock the sewer at the flood-hit city of Catarroja, province of Valencia, Spain, 13 November 2024. EFE/Manuel Bruque

Meanwhile, municipalities in Valencia, another hard-hit area during the recent floods, are once again on alert, with classes canceled across multiple regions.

Additional warnings are in place for other provinces in Andalusia: Granada is under an orange alert (high risk), while Cordoba and Seville remain a notch below on a yellow alert.

Spain’s Second Vice President and Minister of Labor, Yolanda Díaz, stressed on the safety of citizens in high-risk areas, advising workers in affected zones to remain home and assuring that their salaries will be “compensated.” EFE

vm/ssk