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Spaniards brace for fresh storms 2 weeks after fatal Valencia floods

Spaniards braced for further heavy rain and storms on Wednesday, just 2 weeks after rain and flash floods triggered rivers to overflow in Valencia and other parts of Spain killing more than 200 individuals and ruining homes and residential or commercial property.

Spanish weather condition forecaster AEMET provided red signals on Wednesday early morning for eastern Tarragona and southern Malaga provinces, stating it expected them to get as much as 180 millimetres (7.1 inches) of rain within 12 hours that might cause rivers to overflow and generate flash floods.

Orange informs were provided for Thursday for southern Granada and Valencia's coastal area from Denia to Sagunto, where between 40 and 120 mm (1.6 to 4.7 inches) of rain were projected to fall.

Winds of as much as 74 miles per hour (119 kmph) and high seas were predicted for Tarragona, Barcelona and Murcia.

Emergency 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 areas asked people to seek greater ground.

Fifteen individuals were evacuated from their homes in Benalmadena when a wall collapsed, emergency services said.

All train services in Malaga province were halted, consisting of the high speed train between Madrid and Malaga, while Malaga's. train station was evacuated due to flooding, national rail. facilities operator Adif stated.

In Malaga's Campanilla district close to a tributary of. the Guadalhorce River, workers were constructing a plastic barrier. to attempt to consist of the water that drains might no longer take.

People are extremely worried due to the fact that five years ago the. river rose nearly one metre above street level. The walls of the. school collapsed. Citizens' houses were flooded, their. basements. it was a real disaster, resident Miguel Espinosa. informed Reuters.

Classes have actually been suspended in schools in Malaga, Valencia. and some municipalities of Catalonia. 2 city lines have been. closed or partly closed in Malaga, together with three highways. deemed at threat of flash floods.

Juanma Moreno, Andalusia's local head from the. conservative opposition PP party that likewise runs Valencia area,. said avoidance was better than remedy and his government sent. text messages to people to notify them.

I understand that the province of Malaga is, to a large. degree, paralysed with the steps embraced but the objective of. all of us is to decrease the effect (of the storm), Moreno. stated.

In Valencia, where the local government and Red Cross. given out coats and blankets to prepare those struck by previous. floods for the harsh weather, Gandia freight and passenger. port was closed, and the finals of the Billie Jean King tennis. tournament in Malaga were held off to Friday.

Spain's Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz and unions reminded. workers that they were not legally required to go to work if. weather conditions made it unsafe for them to do so.

RESPONSE CRITICISM

The emergency situation procedures come after strong criticism,. mostly of regional 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 isolated depression - in which cold. and warm air meet and produce powerful rain clouds, a pattern. thought to be growing more regular due to climate modification.

In Valencia, the impact of the rain could be severe since. of the considerable amounts of mud already on the ground and. since of the condition of the sewer system, Rosa Tauris, a. representative for its emergency situation committee, informed reporters on. Tuesday.

Many towns in flood-hit locations cancelled all. non-essential activities, informed citizens to work from home and. follow emergency situation services' updates, as well as asking volunteers. to suspend clean-up operations and piling up sandbags for additional. defense.

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

(source: Reuters)