Thousands of residents in Spain’s Costa del Sol region have been evacuated due to severe rain and flooding.

The national weather service, Aemet, has issued the highest level of alert for both the Malaga region and Catalonia in anticipation of intense rains expected to continue until Friday.

In Malaga, including popular tourist areas such as Marbella, Velez, and Estepona, heavy rainfall from a "Dana" weather phenomenon is expected to be particularly severe. The neighboring Valencia region is also on high alert, just weeks after flash floods claimed over 220 lives there.

Authorities predict up to 180mm of rain could fall within 12 hours in northeastern Catalonia, with thunderstorms anticipated along the Tarragona coastline. Across southern Spain, heavy rain and lower temperatures are expected to continue, prompting further precautions.

In Malaga, all schools have been closed, and many supermarkets remain shut due to the extreme weather. Videos circulating online show normally bustling streets submerged in floodwater.

The Andalusian Regional Government has advised around 3,000 residents near the Guadalhorce River to evacuate. Regional Minister of the Presidency, Antonio Sanz, clarified that while no entire towns have been evacuated, certain areas along the riverbank have been targeted for precautionary evacuations. “This decision has been communicated to the government of Spain to coordinate with state security forces,” he stated. (ILKHA)