The torrential rains that the persistent dana – isolated depression at high levels, a pocket of air in high layers of the atmosphere – is discharging on the Mediterranean coast caused a strong and sudden flood in Molina de Segura (Murcia, 71,000 inhabitants), which trapped numerous drivers in their vehicles and generated scenes of panic due to the recklessness of some citizens when trying to cross the floods. Firefighters had to rescue 15 people in and around the town, some of them by helicopter, after their cars were swept away by runoff.
The storms and showers will continue this Friday on the east coast, where 160.6 liters per square meter have been collected in just four hours, in Castellón, for example, and firefighters have had to carry out rescues and bilges, and up to 96.2 liters in Vall d'Alba or 83 in Benicàssim. The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) expects practically widespread showers in the Peninsula, with a situation that can be adverse in large areas, especially in Castilla y León, Community of Madrid, Castilla-La Mancha and Extremadura, due to heavy rains that could exceed 15 or 20 liters in an hour or 40 in 12. The warning is orange, the second level of the three existing, until 11 in the morning in the Valencian Community, while it is yellow, the lowest, in Andalusia, Castilla y León, Castilla-La Mancha, Extremadura and Madrid.
The episode of heavy rains has left in the province of Castellón some rainfall records that have made May 2023 the rainiest in history in the area. The rains have forced towns such as Benicàssim to suspend classes and have left dozens of incidents in the capital and other municipalities, in which emergency services have had to intervene. Up to 220 liters per square meter of accumulated precipitation have been recorded. The capital of Castellón has also accumulated record records during the day on Friday: the accumulated rainfall has left records of up to 171.6 liters per square meter in some parts of the city and have forced the Local Police and the Prevention and Rescue Service to perform 115 services. Low floors have been flooded and some streets have been cut off. The consortium of firefighters of the province has had to perform more than 50 services this Friday and maintains activated a special device to respond to the situation caused by the storm. The most affected municipalities in the province are Benicàssim, Oropesa and Cabanes. Likewise, since 112, 67 services have been intervened due to the effects of the rains between midnight and noon, mainly in the city of Castellón, where 90% of the incidents have taken place, mostly bilges, blocked vehicles and some vehicle rescue. As for the state of the roads, the CV-146 has been blocked, reports Ferran Bono.
During the morning of Friday, another 170 liters per square meter have been registered. The municipality of Almazora (Castellón, 27,383 inhabitants) has become the place where it has rained the most in the last 24 hours in Europe, and the fifth worldwide, as reported by the Aemet.
There are already more than 50 services derived from the storm of #Lluvia. The main affected areas continue to be #Benicassim #Orpesa and #Cabanes. The intensity of precipitation is receding, which makes it possible to increase the efficiency of dewatering works.
The device... pic.twitter.com/tfnfvLV9WK
— Bombers Dipcas (@BombersDipcas) May 26, 2023
In the city of Benicàssim, 220 l/m2 of accumulated precipitation has been reached. The City Council has had to suspend school activities due to the waterspout, in addition to insisting on warnings to citizens to avoid unnecessary displacements through the municipality. The firefighters have had "numerous" services during the night, although none of them have been serious. Regarding the 90 cases attended in the 112 between midnight and six in the morning, they have focused on bilges, blocked vehicles and the rescue of a person in a vehicle.
In Molina de Segura there is one who threw the curriculum for film specialist. pic.twitter.com/0ciIkK7wbp
— Niporwifi © (@niporwifi) May 26, 2023
In the Region of Murcia, the afternoon was hard in Molina de Segura, where mud, flooding and the effects of the flood that swept the city of Murcia, in the middle valley of the Segura, are still visible. In just one hour, rainfall accumulated that exceeded 40 liters per square meter, so the waters occupied the space of the old ramblas and flooded the center of the city.
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Weekend of showers and low temperatures for the time of year
The flood dragged people, cars and street furniture, while tense moments were lived by the boldness of some neighbors. Thus, social networks show videos of a woman who is almost swept away by the torrent when she tries to cross it with a baby in a cart (rescued by a spontaneous) or a vehicle that is also dragged when the driver of a red BMW tries to cross a street that looks like a stream, while the neighbors who record the scene assume that he will succeed and see how the mud takes him. There are no casualties.
Seriously? Is this really happening? What imprudence. This afternoon (25/05/2023), a woman tries to cross with the stroller, where a boy or girl rides, a street full of water after the #tormenta in #MolinaDeSegura (#Murcia). Video: Author unknown. pic.twitter.com/vC7JjLaoiF
— MeteOrihuela (@MeteOrihuela) May 25, 2023
The rescue services had to work hard to rescue people even by helicopter, as happened in Campotéjar, where the driver of a car already almost overturned in the middle of the overflowing flow of the Cañada del Morcillo, next to the industrial estate La Estrella, was extracted by the device hanging from a cable. Hundreds of homes and premises have been flooded, as have surrounding fields, so it remains to assess the damage and losses. Citizens were busy this morning to remove water and mud from their properties.
Distressing situation! This afternoon (25/05/2023), sequence of the rescue of a driver of a vehicle surprised by the sudden increase in flow of the Cañada de Morcillo, next to the La Estrella Industrial Estate, in #MolinaDeSegura (#Murcia). Videos via @Jdsarrion. pic.twitter.com/hzyTYbkELT
— MeteOrihuela (@MeteOrihuela) May 25, 2023
In Madrid, firefighters have carried out 17 interventions during this morning for non-serious incidents due to rain in different municipalities in the region, such as water rafts in streets, flooding in homes or damaged trees.
