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Spaniards brace for fresh storms 2 weeks after deadly Valencia floods

Spaniards braced for even more heavy rain and storms on Wednesday, simply two weeks after rain and flash floods triggered rivers to overflow in Valencia and other parts of Spain, killing more than 200 people and destroying homes and home.

Spanish weather condition forecaster AEMET provided red alerts on Wednesday morning for eastern Tarragona and southern Malaga provinces, saying it anticipated them to get as much as 180 millimetres (7.1 inches) per square metre of heavy to torrential rain within 12 hours that could cause rivers to overflow and produce flash floods.

Orange notifies were provided for Thursday for southern Granada and Valencia's seaside location from Denia to Sagunto, where in between 40 and 120mm (1.6 to 4.7 inches) of rain were predicted to fall.

Winds of up to 74 miles per hour (119 kmph) and high seas were anticipated for Tarragona, Barcelona and Murcia.

Emergency situation services in Malaga have actually moved 3,000 individuals from homes at high threat of flooding near the Guadalhorce River west of the city, and in other locations asked citizens to look for higher ground.

Classes have been suspended in schools in Malaga, Valencia and some municipalities of Catalonia. Two city lines have actually been closed or partly closed in Malaga, together with three highways deemed at danger of flash floods.

In Valencia, where the regional government and Red Cross distributed jackets and blankets, Gandia freight and passenger port was closed, and the finals of the Billie Jean King tennis competition in Malaga were held off to Friday.

Spain's Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz and unions reminded workers that they were not legally obliged to go to work if climate condition made it hazardous for them to do so.

RESPONSE CRITICISM

The emergency situation steps come after strong criticism, mainly of local authorities however also national government, for their level of preparation for and warnings to residents about the Oct. 29 storm and resulting floods.

The autumnal storm system blighting Spain is understood in your area as DANA - a high-altitude separated depression - in which cold and warm air satisfy and produce effective rain clouds, a pattern thought to be growing more regular due to environment change.

In Valencia, the impact of the rain might be serious due to the fact that of the considerable amounts of mud already on the ground and since of the condition of the sewer system, Rosa Tauris, a. spokesperson for its emergency committee, told reporters on. Tuesday.

Many municipalities in flood-hit locations cancelled all. non-essential activities, informed citizens to work from home and. follow emergency services' updates, along with asking volunteers. to suspend clean-up operations and piling up sandbags for extra. security.

Cesar Cabrera, 32, a sewage employee from Pamplona labouring. in the flood-hit Valencian suburb of Pairporta, said they were. racing versus time to unblock drains pipes in case rivers overflowed. again.

We are cleaning so that the water can flow if it rains, he. stated. Let's hope it doesn't drizzle a lot and we can manage the. circumstance.

The coming storms also obliged the suspension of rescue. efforts by teams still searching for missing out on people off the. coast of Valencia, Spain's maritime rescue service stated.

(source: Reuters)