Tuesday, 16 February 2010

More rain and wind damage all over the place

(Agencies/Photo: EuropaSur) Once again, less than two months since the last really bad time, on and around last Christmas, we have to report on road closures and storm damage throughout the Campo de Gibraltar (CdeG). Yesterday's downpours, particularly those in the morning, again caused traffic chaos and school closures. And we remain on a yellow wind and rain alert for today (by the time you read this things may have calmed down a bit, though). One of the main problems was yet again at Estación de San Roque (photo) although most of the traffic now heads for the new by-pass. Nevertheless, 'traditional' flooding occurred at Tesorillo, Castellar, Puente Romano, Los Barrios and, a lot less 'traditional', at the Los Timbales cross roads on the A-405 (see also our JimenaPulse item on the subject).>
According to the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT), the principal problems were in Jimena and Castellar. The A-2100 that joins Castellar with Sotogrande was closed off at 12.23, from Kms 0 to 9. In Jimena the CA-8200 that connects San Pablo de Buceite with San Martín del Tesorillo was blocked a little later. The road from Jimena to Ubrique (CA-8201) remains closed since January 13. Tesorillo was thus isolated yet again, which in turn caused early dismissal at the Hozgarganta high school yesterday as the Instituto was partially flooded and the kids from Tesorillo were hurried home before the road closed.

The problems in Estación de San Roque didn't start until the usual cascade of mud that came down from the hillside, which happened early in the afternoon. In fact, the Guadarranque river overflowed, and combined with the opening of the sluice gates on the reservoir as well as high tide to cause flooding not only at Estación , where several homes had to be evacuated, but also at the Los Timbales crossroads, where the football pitch and fairgrounds looked more like vast swimming pools.

Residents at Los Timbales reported that they hadn't seen anything like this for over 20 years and , according to EuropaSur, complained that matters were made worse because the water evidently contained some sort of fuel-likesubstance, judging by the smell. They reported that they emergency services took a long time coming, though the fire brigade took samples of the water. Mayor Fernando Palma is to ask the Department of the Environment for an investigation although the problem appears to point to a small industrial area nearby .

In Los Barrios, several residents of Puente Romano were once more forced to evacuate their homes, flooded again. Schools were threatened with flooding in the main village and accesses were blocked off by water and the Local Police advised cancelling classes in the morning. There was no time to tell parents, so chaos nsued at the various school gates. Strangely, the urbanization at Guadacorte, where Calle Oropéndola is always on the alert, had no significant reports of damage.

La Línea de la Concepción, lying low against the sea and subject to flooding every time it rains, reported problems from 8am to 10.30 at several points. The road that leads eastwards to Esteponawas cut off thanks to the Sierra Carbonera streams overflowing. In town, water flooded homes and garages at several places, as well as flooding at Parque Reina Sofía.

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