THOUSANDS are fleeing their homes across Andalucia as a rivers surge past historic maximum levels under relentless torrential rain.
At least 3,000 people have been evacuated in the provinces of Malaga, Cadiz and Jaen after Spain’s state weather agency, AEMET, placed the region on a red alert over an ‘extraordinary danger’ to life and property from flooding.
The emergency comes after Storm Leonardo swept into southern Spain early Wednesday, sending the River Guadiaro climbing to a record-breaking 3.73 metres by 8am.
The level surpassed the river’s historic peak of 3.61 metres – reached only days ago on January 28 – and experts warn the water is still rising.
The Guadiaro has already burst its banks near Jimera de Libar, northwest of Marbella, cutting off one of the town’s vital access roads.
Mayor Francisco Javier Lobo said: “Floodwaters haven’t reached homes yet, but we’ve closed the road because water is already flowing across it.”
Forecasters monitoring the Guadalhorce area warn that a further 11 rivers across Andalucia are rising to dangerous levels amid relentless downpours.
Dramatic footage shows the River Genil in Granada province inundating the plains around Loja and submerging key roads under floodwaters.
The river also burst its banks in the Pinos de Genil area, forcing road closures as floodwaters swept across the asphalt.
AEMET upgraded to a red alert early Wednesday for a wide area stretching from Ronda, in Malaga province, to Algeciras, Sotogrande and the Strait of Gibraltar in Cadiz province.
Forecasters warn some areas could be hit by up to 250 litres of rain per square metre in less than 24 hours, and residents have been told to stay away from riverbeds and flood-prone zones.
The rest of the Costa del Sol remains on orange alert, with warnings of torrential downpours, strong winds and rough seas. The severe weather warnings are in place until midnight Thursday.
The escalation follows earlier red alerts predicting up to 200 litres per square metre in a smaller area covering the Serrania de Ronda and Grazalema.
On Tuesday, Ronda’s town hall evacuated residents in the rural districts of Navares y Tejares, Llano de la Cruz and La Indiana over fears of rising rivers.
Schools across Andalucia – except in Almeria – are closed on Wednesday by order of the regional government.
A red AEMET alert is the highest level possible, signalling an extreme risk to life and property and urging people to avoid travel, remain indoors and strictly follow official advice.
Authorities have also activated Andalucia’s Level Two emergency plan, a major step that brings in regional and national resources and strengthens coordination between emergency services.
READ MORE: Andalucia schools will shut as storm set to cause continued weather chaos and heavy downpours
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