Fresh evacuations have been ordered in Malaga amid concerns that the Montejaque dam will fail or overspill after nearing its limit.
At least 22 people from Estacion de Jimera de Libar, in the Serrania de Ronda, were ordered to leave their homes as a precaution on Tuesday.
They are added to the more than 200 made to do the same in Estacion de Benaojan last Saturday.
The dam has risen to less than one metre below its main spillway, raising fears of a sharp increase in the flow of the Guadiaro River that feeds it.
Concerns were mounting overnight amid ongoing rainfall, with more showers expected over the coming days.
Most of those displaced have temporarily moved in with friends, while the town’s mayor personally offered accommodation to several residents.
Two people chose to stay at facilities set up in the El Fuerte sports hall in Ronda, reports Malaga Hoy.
Meanwhile, technicians continue to monitor the dam around the clock, with a strong Guardia Civil presence securing the area closest to the main wall, where access remains closed.
The Montejaque reservoir, which has never been fully operational due to persistent leakage caused by the terrain on which it was built, has become the main source of concern in the area.
In recent days, inflows from the Guadares River – which collects rainwater from the Sierra de Líbar and parts of Grazalema – have pushed water levels to historic highs, unseen in the dam’s 103-year history.
With further rainfall forecast in the coming days, authorities fear levels could rise further, increasing pressure on the structure and the river system downstream.
Emergency services remain on alert as monitoring continues and residents wait to see whether conditions stabilise or further evacuations become necessary.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
