THE Costa del Sol has suffered its worst floods in a quarter of a century, with buses and cars under water, residents on rooftops, one woman dead and a family with nine children rescued by swimmers.
A 26-year-old woman drowned after becoming trapped by flood waters in a brothel in Estepona (Málaga province) as emergency services in helicopters failed to save her.
Cádiz, Huelva and Sevilla are on high alert, but the province of Málaga is the worst-hit - in the last 24 hours, 200 litres of rain per square metre (20 centimetres, or eight inches) has been recorded, and police, fire and ambulance workers have responded to over 700 emergencies since last night (Saturday).
As well as Estepona and Málaga city, the disaster zone takes in Marbella, Alhaurín de la Torre, Álora, Benahavis, Cártama Casarabonela, Coín, Mijas, Ojén, Pizarra, Tolox, Fuengirola, Manilva, Casares, San Pedro de Alcántara, and Guaro.
Flooded garages and ground floors of homes and trade premises have been behind most of the call-outs, but in Cártama and Mijas, dozens of residents have been rescued from the roofs - and even one couple from the bonnet of their car.
Some 300 people have been evacuated in Mijas and a camp has been set up in the La Alberquilla sports centre, whilst in the El Romeral area of Alhaurín de la Torre, a family with nine children had to swim to safety with the help of the Civil Protection squad.
An 84-year-old man was rescued from his flooded rural home in Los Molinos after he became trapped.
Traffic chaos has been reported with mudslides, landslides, puddles, and fallen trees, branches, road signs and billboards on the highways, whilst flights into Málaga airport have been diverted and the city metro has shut due to the track being under water.
Authorities in the southern region of Andalucía say this is the worst flash flood since the year 1991.
