Costa News Spain Breaking News | English News in Spain.
On the morning of 16 December, Costa del Sol residents awoke to a calmer environment after a stormy night that was marked by high winds, thunder and lightning. The storm had a significant impact on Malaga Province, especially along the coast. However, no serious injuries were reported or flooding was widespread in the urban areas. The damage was mainly concentrated on the beaches, public infrastructure and festive decorations. Municipal teams mobilised quickly to assess and clean up.
Strong gusts have knocked down several Christmas lighting arches that were recently installed along the Bulevar de la Cala in La Cala de Mijas. Locals had described these Christmas decorations as the most beautiful ever seen in La Cala.
Dramatic videos of the collapsed structures were widely circulated. Other areas of Mijas were littered with rubbish, the roofs of beach bars (chiringuitos), and trees were uprooted. In Fuengirola there were similar scenes. Trees snapped, or were uprooted completely, street lights failed in several zones, and road signage were bent.
Residents should be careful on the roads this morning as there could still be hazards such as dangling electric cables, debris and fallen trees. Emergency services are working on clearing blocked roads and restoring safety.
Storm Emilia batters the coast
Storm Emilia, in addition to these urban incidents, has also caused extensive erosion along Malaga beaches, particularly on the western Costa del Sol. Marbella has reported a significant loss of sand, as powerful waves stripped away stretches along the coast in places like La Venus, Casablanca and other areas. In some cases, underlying structures were exposed. Heavy machinery from the municipality has been in use since dawn, redistributing sand to repair damaged zones. In Fuengirola & Torremolinos waves have damaged informational panels & flooded the terraces of some restaurants. A nautical equipment kiosk in Torremolinos was swept away. However, the impact here has been described as minor and localized. Benalmadena experienced similar problems, as water reached beachfront businesses.
Wind gusts of up to 70 km/h and waves as high as four metres pounded the coast throughout the province over the weekend and Monday night. The yellow warning issued by AEMET, mainly for rain (up to 40% per hour at some locations), remained in effect until 7am December 16. However, the tail end of the storm caused more damage along the coast due to wind than the heavy downpours. The inland areas had higher accumulations but the littoral was the worst affected by the maritime effects.
Authorities note that while Emilia caused a disruption in the atmosphere before Christmas and required major cleanup efforts, natural sand replenishment occurs often days after such events. While the beaches will recover in part on their oown, ongoing monitoring is required to determine if additional interventions are necessary. Now, the region can look forward to a clearer sky with easing winds and stabilised temperatures.
