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Granada Storms: Granada Storms bury farmhouses and kill dozens of animals
One phrase is heard by all those affected by storm Leonardo, in the province of Granada: “At least we are still alive”.
However, the storms have caused the death of dozens of animals and in the village of Quéntar did their best to save as many as they could.
Many survived, but many others died. Many chickens, horses, and dogs died in the floods. Some are still trapped in the mud.
“We went up the hills to fetch the animals from the farms. In one of the ponds, 14 hens were drowned. We went to fetch a mare as well, but water was up to the knees. We saved two horses and took them to the square where they spent the night under the rain. That was all we could do,” said Nono, a resident of Quéntar, on Sunday 8 February.
Others have also had problems feeding their pets: one resident’s horse went for a week with no food. It was impossible to reach them but they did survive. Nono added, “It’s an absolute catastrophe in every way.”
Many people would like to assist in the removal of belongings from farmhouses but are currently not allowed. “One couple has lost equipment worth 100,000 Euros, another a collection old motorbikes going downstream…the material losses are huge,” stressed a citizen.
Many farmhouses were destroyed and buried in mud. They cannot see them so they don’t know the condition they are in. However, they can imagine. Another local resident stated that “more than 20 houses have been destroyed in this area. These were small warehouses which served as second homes to families.”
Even though there was no TV service in the village until Sunday, the signal is still going strong. Granada City is not easily accessible from the village due to the cut-off main road. Daniel, a resident, said: “It is terrible that the road became impassable as soon as the cleaning machine went by.”
Shuttle buses have been operating to transport residents to Beas de Granada where they can take the regular bus into Granada. It leaves from the Pilar Bus Station in Quéntar at 7.30am and 8.45am.
The return from Granada (Avenida Capitán Moreno) to Beas is at 3pm, with the shuttle picking up in Beas at 3.35pm and at 8.45pm, with the shuttle picking up in Beas at 9.20pm. According to the townhall, the road between the two towns is open but drivers should drive with “extreme caution” due to rain and landslides.
