Storms leave one dead and three missing in Andalucía

ONE man has died and three remain missing in Andalucía as a result of the freak weather conditions caused by 'Storm Gisele', which hit Galicia earlier in the week and is making its way across the mainland.

Two hikers have vanished in the mountains of the province of Cádiz, a Guardia Civil officer has been swept away by the current of a river in Sevilla, and a motorcyclist who disappeared in Jaén has been found dead, emergency services report.

The motorcyclist went missing after being swept away by the Salado stream – which had become a gushing torrent - near the city of Jaén on Saturday, and his body has been found today (Sunday) 15 kilometres from where he was last seen.

A 52-year-old Guardia Civil officer fell into a river on Saturday night in Guillena (Sevilla province) whilst trying to rescue three people trapped in their car, and was swept away.

Around 200 members of a search party, including the fire brigade, Local Police, the Armed Forces and the Guardia Civil's emergency rescue unit are hunting for him (pictured) over a nine-kilometre radius.

Interior minister Juan Ignacio Zoido – who is originally from Sevilla - has travelled to the area to oversee the search.

A mountain rescue team is also out in the Garganta Verde, a mountainous area of the province of Cádiz sliced through by a deep gorge, searching for two hikers after receiving a call at around 19.00 last night.

Treacherous conditions and a dry riverbed which had filled up and was on the point of overflowing meant the search had to be called off after dark, and resumed again this morning.

As yet, the walkers have not been found.

Emergency services made around 400 call-outs overnight, and have already evacuated homes near the La Sierra, Jontoya and Tablas bridges in Jaén city because of the imminent risk of the river bursting its banks.

Some 35 people and animals in the town of Huertas de Alcantarilla (Córdoba province) had to be rescued when a river overflowed.

Numerous B-roads were blocked due to flooding this morning and many remain so this evening, including the A-2300, CA-9208, CA-6105 and CA9200 in the province of Cádiz; the CO-6200, the CO-5300 and the A-3125 in the province of Córdoba; the A-6000 in the province of Jaén and the SE-9108, A-378 and SE-7204 in the province of Sevilla.

In the province of Granada, the GR-4400, GR-3401 and the A-317 were blocked by snowdrifts.