Hundreds of individuals, including British citizens, were swiftly evacuated from a popular holiday destination in Spain over concerns that a dam in the mountains might overflow. Approximately 200 people were urgently removed from the Estacion de Benaojan area, located between Malaga and Gibraltar. The evacuation was ordered by emergency services around 4pm on Friday, prompting the complete clearance of the town nestled amidst mountains.
Residents described feeling the ground shaking as water surged through underground limestone caves beneath their homes, leading to a sense of fear and urgency. The evacuation was triggered by worries regarding the Montejaque Dam, situated above the town, which has been dry and non-functional for nearly a century.
Constructed in the 1920s, the dam was abandoned due to its inability to retain water, causing leakage into the caves below the town, which are composed of porous rock. Recent heavy rainfall from Storm Leonardo exacerbated the situation, reawakening concerns about this neglected dam.
The rising waters and the dam’s condition led to the unprecedented flooding of underground caves, as reported by The Olive Press. A significant tremor around 7pm on Friday induced panic among residents, prompting them to seek safety outside, as detailed by Sur in English.
Among those evacuated were numerous British tourists, as well as locals, with the renowned Molino del Santo hotel – a favorite among UK visitors – located just meters away from the river. A resident, Francisco Parra, recounted the Civil Protection officers instructing them to vacate their homes due to the unstable hillside.
The mayor of Benaojan attributed the emergency operation to adverse weather conditions and the looming risk of the Montejaque dam overflowing. Subsequently, emergency services systematically evacuated residents and visitors, relocating around 200 individuals to a village higher up in the mountains.
Geologists speculated that the alarming tremors could be caused by water pressure forcing air and liquid through the submerged caves. Despite this, government representative Javier Salas reassured the public that there was no immediate threat of flooding in the area.
The evacuation in Spain was part of a broader response to Storm Leonardo, which also prompted evacuations in Portugal and Morocco due to widespread flooding and freezing temperatures. Portugal declared a state of emergency, labeling the aftermath of the extreme weather as a “devastating crisis,” with Storm Marta forecasted to bring further challenges to the region.
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