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On the one year anniversary of the fateful DANA that swept through the Valencian Community, Andalucia was battling its own extreme weather on October 29.

 

Early Wednesday morning, a red alert was issued for Huelva, later downgraded to orange, while Sevillla remained under an orange warning. The alerts proved justified as heavy rain and violent storms battered western Andalucia, dumping up to 160 litres per square metre in Huelva province alone.

 

Emergency services responded to more than 1,300 incidents across the community, leaving two people injured, roads blocked, trees down and several motorists trapped in their vehicles.

 

Sevilla bore the brunt of the chaos with 903 reported incidents, followed by Huelva with 303. Other provinces also felt the impact, with Córdoba recording 45 incidents, Málaga 33, Cádiz 23, Jaén 7 and Granada 2, according to the 112 Emergency Service.

 

As the afternoon wore on, the storm system moved eastwards, taking the worst of the weather with it.

Flooding accounted for 1,021 emergency calls to 112, making it by far the most common problem.

 

Building collapses and falling debris prompted 117 calls, traffic issues generated 95 and problems with essential services led to 50 more.

 

The town of Gibraleón experienced a particularly frightening moment when a tornado tore through, bringing down an awning structure on top of a 53 year old man. The victim suffered a serious head injury and needed resuscitation from paramedics at the scene before being rushed to the ICU at Virgen de la Macarena hospital.

 

A second injury occurred in Torrepalma, Carmona, when a wall collapsed. However, by the time emergency services arrived, the injured person had already left in a private vehicle.

 

Between midday and 3pm, Sevilla province alone recorded over 400 incidents as 115 litres per square metre fell on the capital, setting a new record for the city according to the Council. The deluge caused leaks and disruption at several areas of the Virgen Macarena University Hospital.

 

In La Rinconada, the Los Espartales stream burst its banks near the Sevilla Fashion Outlet Shopping Centre, flooding the roundabout and car park. Part of Metro Line 1 was suspended as a result. Over in Carmona, a nursing home's ground floor was badly affected, forcing staff to move elderly residents upstairs.

 

The severity of the situation led Sevilla to close municipal parks and sports facilities throughout the city.

 

Both the University of Sevilla and Pablo de Olavide University cancelled all classes for the day. Even the city's Motor Show had to call off its opening.

 

Rail services between Huelva and Seville ground to a halt due to problems with the overhead power lines, forcing the suspension of the C-2 and C-5 lines. The C-1 line also experienced significant difficulties between Sevilla Santa Justa and Utrera.

 

Throughout the afternoon, flooding incidents continued to pile up in both coastal and Andévalo areas, with Infoca personnel deployed to support firefighters in Ayamonte.

 

Emergency coordination also extended to Córdoba and Cádiz, where teams dealt with traffic problems caused by flooding and sewage system failures. As evening approached, the rains pushed eastwards into Jaén and Málaga, bringing fresh flooding incidents to those provinces.

 

Fortunately, the weather is expected to improve significantly today, Thursday October 30, with temperatures settling at around 22°C and much calmer conditions returning.

 

Residents and emergency services are now focusing on clean-up efforts and assessing the full extent of the damage caused by Wednesday's unprecedented downpours.

 

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Images: 112 Andalucia