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Spain Faces Third Week of Heavy Rain: Hundreds Evacuated

Madrid, March 18 (Reuters) - Spain experienced heavy rains for the third consecutive week on Tuesday, resulting in at least two missing persons and the evacuation of hundreds of people in the southern region of Andalusia. This was due to multiple rivers overflowing or being at risk of overflowing.

Following severe flooding in the eastern Valencia region four months ago, which caused widespread damage and left many unsettled, Spaniards remained wary. Local and national authorities were criticized for delays in issuing emergency warnings.

The Andalusian regional leader, Juan Manuel Moreno, issued a cautionary message on Tuesday, emphasizing the need for extreme vigilance. He stated, "Please be very careful, even if the rain subsides. Crossing a stream is extremely perilous," in response to the disappearance of two individuals in the regional capital, Seville, who were believed to have attempted to cross a ravine and were possibly swept away. Their abandoned car was discovered overturned nearby.

In a proactive measure, Andalusian authorities evacuated 368 families in the province of Malaga, and in the town of Cartama, approximately 20 people and their pets were rescued from flooded residences.

Emergency services in Aguilas, a coastal town in Murcia, also rescued nine individuals trapped in their vehicles in a ravine. Additionally, occupants of several boats in the same region were aided to safety.

The unusual succession of consecutive storms has not only interrupted Spain's typically sunny weather, which attracts numerous tourists, but also alleviated a prolonged drought. This has resulted in water being released from many dams to prevent overflow.

Following two weeks of heavy rainfall, Spanish reservoirs are now at 65.6% capacity, surpassing the 10-year average, with a 5% increase in the past week alone.

One British resident, Vernon, shared on social media his experiences assisting his Spanish neighbors during the downpours, stating, "Nobody here, including older residents, have ever known it rain 19 days out of the last 20. Torrential, relentless. All night."