Schools shut and people evacuated as torrential rain returns to Spain

Authorities in eastern and southern Spain have closed schools and begun evacuating residents as the country was hit by further torrential rains two weeks after catastrophic floods killed at least 215 people and unleashed a bitter political blame game.

- Sam Jones

The state meteorological agency, Aemet, yesterday put large parts of eastern and southern Spain on amber alert and issued the highest level of warning for the provinces of Tarragona in Catalonia, Malaga in Andalucia and Valencia.

The Andalucian government closed schools in the provinces of Malaga and Granada, and 3,000 people were evacuated from neighbourhoods near the Guadalhorce river, which runs through Malaga province. High-speed rail services between Malaga and Madrid were suspended yesterday afternoon.

The authorities in Catalonia called on people to take "maximum care", while Valencia's regional government - which has been criticised for its handling of the disaster - advised councils in affected areas to close schools and to recommend that people worked from home.

Early yesterday evening, Aemet raised the alert in Valencia province from orange to red. "The danger is extreme," Aemet said on X. "Avoid moving around as rivers could flood. Be very careful!" It warned that 180 litres of water per square metre could fall in the area over four or five hours.