Storms Leonardo and Marta battered southern Spain over the last week, with severe weather warnings ranging from yellow and orange in Granada to red in parts of Malaga and Cadiz.
In La Alpujarra of Granada, the effects of heavy rainfall – from 60-70mm falling on Wednesday February 3, combined with snowmelt from the Sierra Nevada, and ‘sponge-like’ land – has resulted in damaged infrastructure, washed-away access tracks, and collapsed bridges.
The villages of Bayacas and Cigarrones – both part of Orgiva municipality – were amongst the worst hit, with land washed away entirely in some places and giant cracks appearing in others.
The alternative community of Benefico has just witnessed a landslide covering its access track.
Meanwhile, the Alpujarra Alta saw problems in Trevelez, the area’s highest village, and in Portugos, where a landmark ferrous waterfall called ‘Fuente Agria’ was damaged and needs restoration work.
Bridge overflows and river bed bursts in Bayacas
Bayacas, a village above Orgiva, saw dramatic damage. During the deluge, the Rio Chico became ‘not so Chico’ and filled with fast-flowing water.
Several residents became isolated on their ‘campo’ and lost their mains water supply. Meanwhile, the floodwater washed away large stretches of unmade track between Orgiva and Bayacas, that is used by pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles. Residents formed an (effective) support group to publicise their plight.
On Saturday, municipal diggers appeared to clear debris and reopen the bridge. Today, municipal workers have restored mains water to Bayacas – to the delight of residents. The big issue for many is: how long will it take to repair the access track, with approx. 1.5km destroyed?
A municipal worker for nearby Cáñar said: ‘It is necessary to gain permission from the River Authority to repair tracks that are in riverbeds.’ A worker for the auxiliary police confirmed this idea: ‘It is the River Authority.’
Not the first floodin the Granada area – or Orgiva’s riverbeds
La Alpujarra and wider Granada region has experienced intermittent flooding over the decades, with old-timers saying the water was ‘worse’ and ‘higher’ (in years such as 1973 and 1989). Back in October 1879, a huge flood killed thousands of people across southern Spain.
However, last week’s extreme weather event surprised people living in and around riverbeds, ‘barrancos’, and ‘secanos’.
In Cigarrones of Orgiva (renowned for its infamous Dragon Festival), some residents lost road access to their land when the Rio Gudalfeo rose enormously. A spokesperson for the residents today confirmed that: ‘Everyone in the community is safe.’
The most dramatic event was a bus washed downstream in Cigarrones, while onlookers viewed the spectacle from safer land. This is reminiscent of a disappearing removals truck during a past flood, after a Dragon Festival.
I spoke to the owner of the bus. ‘I was wondering how to get rid of it,’ he said pragmatically. ‘When the situation is over, I will recover the scrap metal for recycling.’
Crisis management
With many Alpujarran towns experiencing problems – ranging from swelling rivers to rock falls and toppled trees – some crises have been well-managed.
The spa town of Lanjaron, always proactive with its PR campaign, had its riverbed declared clear by the Junta de Andalucia, shortly before the deluge.
Trevelez was also proactive with its flow of information.
Fragile humans
These severe weather events demonstrate human fragility against nature.
On Saturday night, I was checking on a friend who lives up a rural track. As I was very late, he had walked 1km down the track to meet me.
When he returned home, several minutes later, the parking space for his ‘campo’ had been washed down the ‘barranco’. Fortunately, minus my pickup truck.
Being on time would have meant ‘pickup slides down barranco’. Some cars were washed away in the Bayacas incident, but minus their drivers.
A show of community support
When a crisis occurs, it demonstrates the willingness of the local community to band together, help those in need (such as the elderly and those with limited mobility), and lobby local authorities for solutions. The efforts of residents quickly drew attention to problem areas!
However, with washed-away tracks, there is no quick fix.
Another concern: snowmelt descending from the higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada south flank. AEMET’s weather forecast predicts another week of rain – although without actual yellow warnings (at the time of going to print).
Meirim van Hazendonk of Bayacas says: ‘The water is not lower, but not more or critical. There is a lot of snow above us and rain predicted until Saturday.’
Insurance, ‘acts of God’, and reality
For residents facing damage or loss, insurance adds another problem. In Spain, flooding is generally classified as an extraordinary risk, meaning that claims are handled not by standard insurers but by the Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros, a state-backed body funded through insurance premiums.
They are possible if a valid policy exists, but the process can be slow and stressful. And not everyone has insurance.
The recent floods underline a broader issue. Much of rural Granada is crossed by seasonal riverbeds that remain dry for years before refilling.
Mathew Wood of Hola Properties – an estate agency that covers Granada and Costa Tropical – emphasises that anyone considering buying land or property near this terrain must check the flood history and be aware of issues posed by ‘secanos’ and ‘barrancos’.
These landscapes are beautiful, but they are not static.
Rules Dam instability
Many local water courses run into the Rules Dam – a vast reservoir located above the town of Velez de Benadualla – in a basin of known subsidence (source: university of Granada). The at-capacity dam is realising 30,000 cubic metres of water per second.
Meanwhile, some social media users are making ‘helpful’ comments, such as: ‘Why don’t you save that water for summer’, while also engaging in Disaster Tourism – gathering footage of ‘all that wasted water’ to post on Instagram!
The nearby Rules Viaduct, part of the motorway leading from Motril to Granada, is in its second stage of its most recent repair project, involving a support column.
Will it survive the recent forces of nature unscathed? Subsidence has meant other repairs in previous years. Local motorists dread its closure, because it increases journey time.
The worst scenario, of course, would be a burst dam.
What happens next?
As waters stabilise or recede – at least temporarily – residents and authorities are left with difficult decisions.
How long to restore broken access roads? Who pays for it? And what support is available for residents who cannot enter using any vehicle?
La Alpujarra lives with extremes – hot and cold, drought and deluge, isolation and resilience. This week’s flooding highlights how nature can return water to the paths it has historically followed.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
