The storm that hit several parts of the province on Saturday night, 27th, with a red alert issued by Civil Protection, caused more than thirty incidents in Mijas. The most notable thing is that there were no personal injuries, according to the Local Police, although there was material damage and flooding in areas near streams and rivers due to rising water levels and overflow.

The Town Hall highlights that the Local Police, Fire Brigade, Civil Protection, Livestock, Operational Services, Street Cleaning and Parks and Gardens departments carried out “constant surveillance and access control throughout the night in areas considered dangerous (mainly near streams and the river)”. 

 

In addition, interventions were carried out in response to landslides (Calle Octavio Paz, Las Lagunas; and in La Cala, with falling solar panels and a collapsed pergola); falling walls (Calahonda Royale, causing damage to some vehicles); falling trees (both in Las Lagunas and La Cala, posing a risk to traffic); animal rescue in La Alberquilla and the evacuation of dogs from Animal Domus and PAD, which were transferred to the Mijas racecourse, which was set up to shelter animals.

The councillors for Civil Protection and the Fire Brigade, Francisco Jerez (Vox); for the Local Police, Juan Carlos Cuevas Dawson (Vox); for Operational Services and Parks and Gardens, Daniel Gómez Teruel (PP), and for Street Cleaning and Livestock, Eloy Belmonte (Vox), participated in the municipal operation in response to the red alert issued by the authorities after 21 hours on Saturday.

Cleaning work

Since Sunday, crews have been working to remove fallen trees, drain flooded areas and clear streams and rivers, which have remained closed until public safety could be guaranteed. They are also repairing rural roads that have been damaged and left scattered communities isolated. What has not yet been opened to the public is the Grand Park, where work continues to clean mud and remove accumulated water in the skate park area. 

In addition, following the activation of the red alert, the Street Cleaning Department decided to temporarily suspend the cleaning service due to the unsafe weather conditions, with the aim of protecting both staff and citizens.

Municipal Emergency Plan

The Town Hall activated the Municipal Emergency Plan at 13:05 hours on Saturday 27th, when the State Meteorological Agency raised the alert from yellow to orange in anticipation of heavy rain. This decision improved coordination and mobilisation of personnel. The councillor for Civil Protection and the Fire Brigade, Francisco Jerez (Vox), reported an increase in the number of firefighters on duty, with an additional  three-member team at that very moment.

Until the red alert came into effect, the various municipal departments “continued their constant work of surveillance, warning  citizens of the danger in flood-prone areas and monitoring the situation”, the Town Hall reported.

 

Cleaning service

Following the activation of the red alert, the Street Cleaning Department decided to suspend the service, which is now operating normally, as a preventive measure. The councillor responsible, Eloy Belmonte (Vox), pointed out that the service was subsequently reinforced and the sewerage system checked.

The racecourse as an animal shelter

During the storm, it was decided to open the Mijas racecourse to evacuate and protect animals belonging to residents living near the river who needed it. Two buildings were made available, although in the end only one had to be used –the other remained in reserve–.  This building was used by two specialist associations to shelter approximately forty dogs. 

Grand Park

The children’s areas and the skate park were the most affected, according to the councillor for Operational Services, Daniel Gómez Teruel (PP), with staff from Street Cleaning, Operational Services, Parks and Gardens and Basic Income working to drain water, unblock clogged drains and remove mud.

 

River crossings

The councillor for Local Police, Juan Carlos Cuevas Dawson (Vox), reported that the Local Police kept access to the streams and the river closed due to the flow and force of the water in some areas, reopening on Monday after the removal of rocks and the reduction of the flow. The Gomenaro, Las Pasadas and Arroyo Seco rivers are some of the areas where Rural Areas and Operational Services staff continued to work on Monday 29th. 

Rural roads

The councillor for the Fire Brigade and Civil Protection, Francisco Jerez (Vox), highlighted “damage to some rural roads that has left scattered communities isolated, where machines are already working”, as they are doing on the road along the banks of Arroyo Seco. From the Rural Areas and Livestock Department, Edmundo Alarcón highlighted “the incredible work” being carried out to “ensure safety”.

Fallen walls, pergolas and trees

Interventions were carried out in response to landslides on Octavio Paz Street in Las Lagunas and in La Cala, where solar panels fell and a pergola collapsed. There was also a collapse of low walls in Calahonda Royale, causing damage to some vehicles, and other trees fell in both Las Lagunas and La Cala, posing a risk to traffic. Mijas Fire Brigade was also involved in the clean-up work.

 

Storm with wind, rain and hail

In addition to the heavy rainfall recorded in the municipality of Mijas, the town also experienced a significant hailstorm, as shown in the image on the right, taken in Valtocado.

Other incidents

On Monday 29th, Operational Services collected  the giant ball that stood over one of the roundabouts on María Zambrano Avenue. No, it was not the work of AI, as many thought, the ball was actually hit by the storm and rolled down the street, although there were no personal injury or material damage.

 

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