Damages now expected to exceed €100 million after further assessments submitted

THE value of the damage caused by last weekend’s downpour is now expected to exceed €100 million, according to the Junta de Andalucia.

So far, only nine municipalities have submitted their initial assessments of the destruction, with an estimated total cost of €38 million, €28.5 million of which has been claimed by Marbella alone.

Some of the worst affected zones have not yet completed their evaluations, however, and among these Estepona is expected to require aid in excess of €27 million.

In addition, at least €11 million is thought to be needed by the agricultural sector and around €3.4 million by the provincial road network, while claims by private individuals are projected to exceed €25 million.

THE Junta’s Director General of the Public Water Authority, Juan Serrato, made an appearance in Malaga on Friday, December 9, alongside provincial delegate Jose Luis Ruiz Espejo, with the pair confirming that technicians have now inspected 23 kilometres of rivers and streams affected by the flash floods.

Their aim is to identify which stretches represent the greatest danger to citizens should strong rain return to the region, in order to prioritise maintenance, reinforcement and unblocking of waterways, culverts and drainage channels.

Such sites have already been identified in Estepona, Manilva, Fuengirola, Torremolinos, Malaga, Casares, Alhaurin de la Torre, Alhaurin el Grande, Cartama, Casarabonela, Coin, Alora, Pizarra and Mijas, although an economic evaluation has not yet been performed, while priority will also be given to repairing dam service roads.

Ruiz Espejo said that the greatest damage has occurred in coastal areas between Malaga city and Manilva, and confirmed that the Junta will repair damages to infrastructure which it is responsible for using the autonomous community’s contingency budgets.