A new Atlantic storm hits the Iberian Peninsula with more than 11,000 people evacuated
Eleven communities are on alert due to the passage of 'Marta' with persistent rain, snow and wind
BarcelonaMuch of the Iberian Peninsula is preparing for the arrival of a new Atlantic storm this Saturday, while the damage caused by the previous storm is still evident. Leonardowhich has left one woman dead in Malaga and 11,000 people displaced from their homes in Andalusia alone. Today it's the turn of Marten, which has put 11 of the 17 autonomous communities on alert for the risk of heavy rain, snow, and wind. All this comes with the land completely soaked by rainfall since December, rivers at maximum levels, and reservoirs full.
In the Andalusian community, the risk of precipitation and landslides has forced the evacuation of some 11,000 residents, according to the latest data. Of these, 3,400 have been in the city of Jerez, in the province of Cádiz, where the small town of Grazalema also belongs. The residents of this town had to leave last Wednesday as a precaution because the authorities and experts are not sure if the buildings will withstand the pressure of the aquifer beneath the mountainous town.
Throughout Andalusia, the storm Leonardo The flooding caused the closure of more than a hundred roads, and rail service is severely disrupted. Cádiz is the hardest hit by road closures, with 50 roads affected. In total, 152 roads are experiencing some kind of disruption, according to the latest report. Meanwhile, the rising Guadalquivir River continues to keep Córdoba on edge, as the river's flow has exceeded 5.5 meters, more than double the level that triggers a red alert (2.5 meters). The increased flow led to the closure of the Pont Romà bridge, according to the EFE news agency.
The head of Coordination for the Guadalquivir River Basin Authority (CHG) in Córdoba, Pedro Escribano, has warned that "the worst is yet to come." More than 80 liters per square meter are expected to accumulate in many areas over the next twelve hours.
Alerts have also been activated in Extremadura, and the regional government is maintaining evacuations in various towns due to the storm. They have issued a warning for the residents of Balboa (Badajoz) and do not rule out ordering further evacuations in other municipalities throughout the afternoon.