Nearly half a thousand interventions by the emergency services due to flooding in tunnels and railway sections, pools of water on roads, overflowing rivers and fallen trees. That is the provisional balance of the DANA as it passes through Madrid after the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) has lowered the alert in the mountains, the metropolitan area and Henares from red to orange due to torrential rains that have left less water than expected.
The most affected municipalities have been Navalcarnero, Arroyomolinos, Sevilla La Nueva, Alcalá de Henares and Meco, although the maximum alert level will remain active tonight in the southern, vegas and western areas of the Community.
The forecasts were bad. Very bad. To the point that the regional government and the capital's City Council recommended that citizens not leave their homes due to the risk of the predicted episode. Parks, urban tunnels and municipal theaters suspended their activity while the first division soccer match between Atlético de Madrid and Sevilla was postponed due to torrential rains that ultimately did not arrive. At least not to exceed 120 liters per square meter as expected.
The intermittent but intense downpours, however, caused 588 incidents on streets, highways, the metro network and some homes between 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Of these services, more than 450 have been interventions by the regional fire brigade. "Especially due to pools of water on public roads," sources from the regional Executive have detailed,
More complicated has been rail transport since the Atocha station has suffered the interruption for several hours of its medium and long distance services to and from Andalusia - a flood of water and mud at the La Sagra station (Toledo) - and Extremadura.
The Cercanías service has also suffered significant delays on several lines, including the cut of the one that connects Colmenar Viejo with Chamartín due to the fall of trees on the tracks.
The rains have caused some problems in the Madrid Metro facilities, including the cutting of line 11 between the La Fortuna and La Peseta stations for about three hours, as well as the Light Metro line 1.
More than 550 National Police officers have been deployed during the day in different parts of the Community of Madrid in case rapid action was necessary in response to the red alert due to the risk of torrential rainfall and security has been reinforced in means of transport, airports and railway stations.
The Operational Coordination Center (CECOR) was established this Sunday at the Madrid Police Headquarters to organize the units deployed throughout the Community of Madrid due to the prediction of heavy rains this Sunday afternoon, according to sources. of the body.
The Security and Emergency Agency 112 Community of Madrid has activated the emergency phase of the Special Civil Protection Plan for floods in the Community of Madrid (Inuncam) due to the heavy rains and storms expected for this Sunday.
