Madrid collapses when it rains. Especially when it rains large amounts of water in a short time, in this case, 30 liters of water per square meter in half an hour. Metro line 7 has been affected and traffic has been interrupted in several sections: in the one from Pueblo Nuevo to Cartagena – three stops – due to accumulation of water and between Canal and Guzmán el Bueno, in both directions, also by water rafts. The line also does not stop at Avenida de la Ilustración for the same reason. Line 10 has also interrupted the circulation of trains between Fuencarral and Begoña. Traffic is also interrupted on line 5 between Pirámides and Urgell stations. A spokesman for Metro de Madrid has indicated that "there is a lobby in Canillejas and another in Francos Rodríguez that has had to close, but the stations work and the train service too".
Roads A1, A2, A3 and A6 are also subject to traffic jams; the A1 from Las Tablas to Alcobendas, the A2, which is cut at kilometer 8, at the Canillejas bridge, due to accumulation of water on the road, and suffers retentions from Ciudad Lineal to Alcalá de Henares, the A3 from Santa Eugenia to Perales de Tajuña and the A6 from Puerta de Hierro to Majadahonda. According to the Aemet, accumulations of 30 liters per square meter have been recorded.
The City Council and the Community of Madrid have activated this Monday the Flood Action Plan (Painunam) by yellow warning for rains and storms of the State Meteorological Agency in Madrid and its surroundings, and in the afternoon they have raised it to orange alert before the intense rainfall. Prevention of the possible greater rainfall in Madrid consists, for the moment, of warning the population and giving a series of basic recommendations: avoid crossing flooded areas, abandon the vehicle if it gets stuck, if the water does not let the doors open or if the height of the volume of water exceeds that of the wheels; Move away from riverbeds, streams and low-lying areas or prioritize highways, among others.
We need @BomberosMad to come NOW! with pumps to extract water. https://t.co/MnFUQQ3RUC pic.twitter.com/ThE4z9gy5Y
— More Madrid | Barajas (@Mas_Barajas) May 29, 2023
The water in some streets such as Servator in the neighborhood of Canillas, has exceeded the sewage system and has flooded the road. According to the emergency services of the Madrid City Council, firefighters are carrying out multiple interventions for water rafts caused by rain in other areas, mainly in the districts of San Blas, Hortaleza, Canillejas and Barajas, which are also flooding. This Monday afternoon there are so many incidents due to rain that they are prioritizing the most important ones, so there are some warnings waiting.
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