Machinery has been deployed along Marbella’s coastline to clear sand blocking river mouths as the town prepares for heavy rain brought on by DANA Adam.

The council has stepped up work to help water drain into the sea, targeting locations where natural sand deposits can narrow or partially close the outlets.

The operation covers the Guadalmina, Guadaiza, Rio Verde, Guadalpin and Rio Real rivers, alongside the Chopo, Represa, Primero, Segundo and Real de Zaragoza streams.

Crews are removing and redistributing sand at the shoreline, while separate teams clear rubbish, vegetation and other debris that could obstruct water flowing through the channels.

The council announced the measures on Friday as forecasts pointed to unsettled weather over the coming days.

Although the work forms part of year-round maintenance, the beaches department has reinforced operations at the most sensitive locations ahead of the weather warnings.

Staff will continue monitoring the river mouths and return with machinery where necessary as conditions develop.

The council urged residents to follow instructions from emergency services and check official sources for updates on warnings, incidents and any restrictions.

The Costa del Sol faces heavy rain and thunderstorms on Sunday as weather warnings cover most of Andalucia during the passage of DANA Adam.

Aemet has issued yellow alerts for the Sol y Guadalhorce and Axarquia areas of Malaga province from 6am until 5.59pm on October 18.

Both areas could receive 20 litres of rain per square metre in an hour, with separate warnings for thunderstorms during the same period.

Much of the region is coloured yellow on the latest warning map, while the Levante area of Almeria faces an orange alert on Sunday night.

There, Aemet forecasts rainfall of 30 litres per square metre in an hour and 80 litres over 12 hours, warning that the latter total could accumulate in just a few hours.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.