Unprecedented electric storms bringing gales, hailstorms and torrential rain forced families out of their homes in La Daya and Los Donates areas of Calasparra, flooded shops, garages and basements and washed away cars.
The storms began at about 7pm depositing 62 and a half litres of water per square metre in little more than a hour. Emergency services are still assessing the full extent of the damage.
Local police were forced to evacuate several families from the area around Las Reposaderas as the Caravaca river broke its banks.
Rubbish containers and cars were swept away in La Parada, one of the worst affected areas along with Calle Lavador and the Calle El Molinico. In some basements the water reached one metre in depth.
All the emergency services including the local police, Civil Protection, the Municipal Services and the fire brigade were mobilized last evening although they didn´t reach rural areas such as Benefuche and Villa Vieja where there was severe flooding on rural roads. Damage to the crops remains to be assessed.
The weather forecast for the next few days is for cloudy weather with sunny intervals. There is no further rain forecast during the rest of the week and temperatures are expected to reach a maximum of 28 degrees and minimums of 15 degrees.
