Francis, Joseph, Kristín, and now Leonardo. Storm after storm, Mijas has adapted to each situation as required, and with the measures for this latest weather event, it has done so again. The mayoress of Mijas, Ana Mata (PP), reported on Tuesday 3rd at midday via the Town Hall’s social media that, “with the aim of coordinating all prevention and response measures for the expected weather situation” the following day, she held “an online meeting with the mayors of the other 102 municipalities in Málaga”.

According to the mayoress, “the ground is saturated with water, which is causing landslides, fallen trees and risks to infrastructure”. This came after the highest alert level for rain was declared in Andalusia and classes were suspended across the region for Wednesday 4th of February, except in Almería”.

Emergency plan activated

The Mijas Town Hall stressed that the Local Territorial Emergency Plan had already been fully activated on Tuesday 3rd. “We have deployed preventive measures throughout Mijas, reinforcing the emergency services, Fire Brigade and Civil Protection, Operational Services and Parks and Gardens”, said Mata, who insisted that “the 112 telephone number should be used responsibly in any emergency situation”. However, it should be noted that on Monday 2nd, the mayoress called a meeting of the Mijas Town Hall Emergency Advisory Committee in view of the weather forecast for Wednesday. The emergency plan was activated on Monday at pre-emergency operational level 0, and it was decided to close the parks, the Coastal Path, and access to the river.

Among the measures adopted for Wednesday 4th, when orange alert was in place in Mijas due to rain and wind, were: the suspension of school activities; the suspension of activities in senior citizens’ centres; the suspension of UP activities; the recommendation to work from home whenever possible; the closure of parks and public spaces with trees due to the risk of falling; the suspension of outdoor sports activities; and the preventive evacuation of flood-prone areas. All of these measures remained in force on Thursday 5th, when Mijas was on yellow alert for rain, wind and coastal phenomena, while on Friday 6th it was expected that only municipal parks and access to the Gomenaro River would remain closed.

Committee meeting

The decision to maintain these measures was taken on Thursday 5th in the morning during a new meeting of the Mijas Town Hall Emergency Advisory Committee, where it was decided to keep the municipal plan in place in view of the forecast for a new storm on Saturday 7th, which has been named Marta, and for which yellow alerts have already been activated in Mijas due to wind and coastal phenomena. Mata chaired the meeting, during which the situation in the municipality and the incidents arising from storm Leonardo were also assessed. 

The mayoress announced that all public parks would remain closed, as the excessive moisture in the ground could cause trees and branches to fall and break. She also said that access to the river would remain closed, although the sports facilities would open on Friday 6th, as would the UP, unless a sudden deterioration in conditions forced them to close. 

Truce in the weather

“Tomorrow, Friday, a respite from the bad weather is expected between one storm and the next, but we must not let our guard down”, explained the mayoress. The Fire Brigade, Local Police, Civil Protection, Parks and Gardens, Operational Services, Cleaning and Rural Areas will continue to coordinate their efforts to respond as quickly as possible to new incidents and minimise the risks arising from the storm.

The priority, protecting people

The mayoress, Ana Mata (PP), emphasised that her “priority is clear: to protect people”. She therefore urged citizens to “be responsible, avoid unnecessary journeys and follow only information from official channels”. Finally, the mayoress stated that they continue to “work in a coordinated manner to ensure everyone’s safety” and called for the responsible use of the 112 emergency number.

Animals also safe

On Tuesday 3rd, the Mijas Town Hall made the racecourse available to other municipalities for the shelter of animals. The facilities will remain open while adverse weather conditions persist, providing refuge for horses, equines and other animals from both Mijas and surrounding towns under red alert. The councillor for Livestock and Rural Areas, Eloy Belmonte (Vox), explained: “In Mijas, we understand that in situations like this, coordination and cooperation between municipalities are key. That is why we are making the racecourse available to those councils that are under red alert and need a safe space for their horses and other animals”. Basic Basic Income staff are on site to receive animals, while the Local Police are coordinating the various requests. Animal Domus was the first animal protection organisation to use the facilities, bringing in a dozen dogs.

 

No school and other measures

On Monday 2nd, it was decided to close municipal parks, the Coastal Path and access to the river. These measures were intensified on Wednesday 4th and Thursday 5th, when the following were in force: the suspension of school activities; the suspension of activities in senior citizens’ centres; the suspension of UP activities; the recommendation to work from home; the closure of parks and public spaces with trees due to the risk of falling; the suspension of outdoor sports activities; and the preventive evacuation of flood-prone areas. For Friday 6th, the closure of parks and footbridges over rivers and streams remains in place.

 

On alert since Monday 2nd

On Monday 2nd, the first meeting of the Town Hall's Emergency Advisory Committee was held, chaired by the mayoress, Ana Mata (PP), and attended by the councillors for Local Police, Juan Carlos Cuevas Dawson (Vox); Fire Brigade and Civil Protection, Francisco Jerez (Vox); Operational Services, Beaches and Parks and Gardens, Daniel Gómez Teruel (PP); Livestock, Cleanliness and Rural Areas, Eloy Belmonte (Vox), and Social Inclusion and Sports, Mari Francis Alarcón (PP), as well as the chief superintendent of the Local Police, Juan Manuel Rosas, and the deputy officer of the Mijas Fire Brigade, Francisco Manuel Mérida. At this meeting, the Local Territorial Emergency Plan was activated at pre-emergency operational level 0.

 

Suspension of carnival and sporting events

The Town Hall announced that the Carnival celebrations planned for this weekend have been postponed until Saturday 14th in Las Lagunas and until the 21st in La Cala. Meanwhile, the Royal Andalusian Football Federation announced the suspension of sporting events from Friday 6th to Monday 9th. This affects regional and provincial competitions, the Third Federation, the National Youth League, futsal and women’s football, as well as the Andalusian Championship for provincial women’s under-12 and under-16 futsal teams.

The emergency plan remains in force

The Town Hall’s Emergency Advisory Committee met on Thursday 5th and decided to keep the Local Emergency Plan active in anticipation of the arrival of Marta, a new storm, in Mijas on Saturday 7th.

 

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