Date Published: 02/09/2021
ARCHIVED - Heavy storm causes temporary chaos and flooding in Aguilas on Thursday morning
ARCHIVED ARTICLE The RM-11 motorway was closed for nearly two hours and cars were dragged by the floodwaters
Although the Murcia region appeared to have escaped the worst of the major storm front which has been passing across Spain for the last two days, there is always some degree of unpredictability with this type of DANA depression as Águilas discovered on Thursday morning when the storm showed it had one last sting in its tail.
The predictions of 30mm of rain in an hour yesterday failed to materialize in the north and north-west of the region, but in Águilas this morning a torrential downpour caused traffic chaos and caught everyone by surprise, including Aemet, who issued an extended weather warning whilst the heavens were emptying over the municipality.
Intense rains forced the temporary closure of the RM-11 motorway in both directions between Águilas and Lorca, near to the El Saltaor windmill, bringing traffic to a standstill according to the General Directorate of Traffic which sent in an emergency cleaning team to remove debris from the road.
The motorway was re-opened shortly after 11 a.m. and circulation has now returned to normal.
Streets in the town centre ran like rivers, with manhole covers lifting due to the sheer force of the water running through the network and several vehicles were dragged down along the streets and into the rambla, which disgorged millions of litres of water, and a few cars, into the sea.
Every time there is any type of weather alert in Águilas, holidaymakers unaccustomed to the volume of water which habitually washes down into the rambla network, are urged to remove vehicles from the rambla, which is frequently used as an overflow carpark during the busy holiday weeks, and as normal, some visitors failed to heed the warnings, and vehicles were washed down the rambla and out into the sea.
The worst affected urban area was the Cañarete industrial area, which was completely flooded with water and debris, although this has now been cleared by municipal services and has re-opened.
The council reported a breakage in the general drinking water supply at the entrance to the urban center and has warned that there could be some disruption to services during the day as water officials work to resolve this incident.
The regional emergencies services have reported 55 calls, most of which related to flooding in properties and from those caught in their vehicles by the flooding. No injuries have been reported and firemen are now working to pump out basements in the urban area of the town.
Image: 112RM