Marbella battered and bruised in aftermath of Storm Claudia – 36 firefighter interventions

Marbella’s Emergency Services were kept on high alert by Storm Claudia, which soaked the Costa del Sol. The yellow weather warnings remained active for heavy rainfall from Friday, November 14 to Sunday November 16. Marbella was spared the worst of the rainstorm, despite widespread damage in southern Spain and Portugal.

Pine trees being blown over by winds

Marbella Council reports that between Friday and Sunday, 36 emergency interventions were carried out, with the majority being handled by local Fire Service. Most incidents were weather-related: fallen trees – including one large pine that crashed onto a public road, crushing a minivan – branches blocking streets, loose cornices, and dangling cables. A street in the historic Casco antiguo was temporarily closed to repair a damaged cornice. The firefighters also attended to six smaller fires, of which three were in public spaces and caused directly or indirectly, by wind. They also attended to two water leaks within homes.

Marbella’s newly upgraded stormwater drainage system and sewage network proved to be effective despite the 60mm of rain that fell in Malaga over the weekend. In preparation for the rainy seasons, recent clearance of dry streambeds has paid off. Many beaches, however, look bedraggled by canes or natural residues left from trees.

On the Costa del Sol’s wider area, Malaga Airport was forced to divert several flights due to heavy rain and low visibility, while flooding of low-lying parts of the Guadalhorce and western coasts. However, the much-needed rain was welcomed by farmers and reservoir managers battling years of drought, with La Concepción reservoir, which supplies Marbella and the western Costa del Sol, receiving a huge top-up.

Since Storm Claudia has moved to the east, cooler temperatures, scattered showers, and the end of major flooding are now expected. Emergency services remain ready in the event of further incidents.