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Date Published: 24/05/2023

Murcia flood news: Classes are back on, roads are open and the worst is behind us

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The rains continue but life is now getting back to normal in the Region of Murcia

Murcia flood news: Classes are back on, roads are open and the worst is behind us

The heavy rains are continuing to cause mayhem in southern Spain. The orange and yellow alerts for storms and rainfall are still in place this Wednesday May 24 in the Campo de Cartagena and the Valle del Segura, respectively. Meteorologists are expecting heavy rains up until 7pm.

The President of the Region of Murcia, Fernando Miras López, has stated that the worst of the rain should be behind us now.

Emergency rescues

Over 100 litres of rain per square metre fell in just three hours in Cartagena yesterday, Tuesday May 23, and there were more than 100 calls for help to the emergency services throughout the Region of Murcia.

Most of these were to assist in draining water from homes and rescuing people caught in the downpour, such as that of a homeless man who usually sleeps under the bridge in the Barrio de la Concepción neighbourhood in Cartagena and who got a nasty surprise when the water suddenly rose up to reach his chest.

Emergency services also saved two elderly people, one of them disabled, in two flooded houses in Los Barreros and Las Seiscientas, and they helped several drivers to get out of their vehicles when they drove into flooded streets and roads despite warnings from the authorities.

Schools and roads reopen

Almost all the roads that were closed due to flooding are now open again, with the exception of the Rambla del Albujón, in Lobosillo; the Paso de Los Carros, in Sangonera La Seca; and the Camino Torre Abellán, in Avileses, all of which are in central Murcia.

La Vereda Rincón de Gallego, #Torreagüera se abre al tráfico, pero les pedimos que circulen con precaución debido a la acumulación de agua en la calzada.

Mantén una velocidad segura para evitar contratiempos. pic.twitter.com/VIhJ2hJuvt
— Policía Local Murcia (@MurciaPolicia) May 24, 2023

Likewise, the RM-D18 at Matalentisco is closed from kilometre 0 to 1.5 in both directions, and the RM-D15 from kilometre 0 to 4.3, both near Águilas.

Finally, the RM-310 which goes towards the reservoir of La Pedrera continues to be closed to traffic due to flooding in the roadway.

After schools in 14 different municipalities were shut on Tuesday, they will be open again today.

The universities of Murcia and the Polytechnic of Cartagena, as well as day centres, sports, leisure and cultural organisations are also planning to resume activity this Wednesday.

Water levels in the reservoirs

While the rains that have fallen this month of May have helped somewhat to top up the depleted reservoirs in the Region of Murcia, the south of Alicante and the east of Almeria, the truth is that the area is still under the threat of drought.

The reservoirs have gained two hectometres of water compared to last week, breaking the downward trend of recent months, yet they are still at just 33.5% of their total capacity, 134 hectometres less than a year ago.

Despite the very heavy rains this week, which have even left more rainfall in one day than in the whole month in many parts of southeast Spain, this spring still looks on course to be the driest in Spain since records began.

It would have to rain twice as much as normal between now and the end of September for the hydrological year to end with normal values, according to the State Meteorological Agency.

While farmers and agricultural organisations are celebrating the arrival of the rains, they have insisted that it does not help to solve their general problem of a lack of water.

It is good news for olive and almond trees, but a large part of the cereal crops for this year has already been lost.

Mar Menor

There were reports of some mud and waste washing into the Mar Menor lagoon. But for the most part, the new storm tank at the Torre Pacheco sewage treatment plant was used for the first time to retain part of the water caused by the storm, which would otherwise have flowed into the Mar Menor as the treatment capacity of the plant was exceeded.

The tank, which cost 4.5 million euros, stopped nearly nearly 40,000 cubic metres of water washing into the protected saltwater lagoon.

Image 1: Ayuntamiento de Cartagena

Image 2: Ayuntamiento de Jumilla

Image 3: Ayuntamiento de Totana

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