Malaga floods: ‘Prompt evacuations likely saved lives’

Thousands of people have been evacuated following floods in Malaga, Spain. 

Dr Jess Neumann, Associate Professor of Hydrology at the University of Reading, said: “The floods in Malaga have thankfully not been as severe as those in Valencia two weeks ago. The prompt evacuations demonstrate how quickly action can and should be taken when red alerts and warnings are issued. In Malaga, the speed of the evacuations has likely saved many lives.

“Rainfall and flood forecasts are dynamic. They change and do not remain static, and there is always a degree of uncertainty. Being responsive to forecasts and warnings is at the forefront of flood preparedness action.”

Professor Hannah Cloke, Professor of Hydrology at the University of Reading, said: “The precautionary principle adopted by the authorities in Malaga to shut schools, close public transport, shut major roads and ask people to stay at home has meant that despite a day of huge rainfall totals, nobody has lost their life unnecessarily in the flood water.

“A precautionary approach can feel like an inconvenience to people stuck at home for a day or asked to evacuate from streets that ultimately recovered quickly from the heavy rain. After the very real risks of inaction were shown in Valencia, it was very clear to authorities and many people that it is not worth taking unnecessary risks with people's lives. 

“People have short memories. To some people, it may seem like an overreaction to evacuate a home that has only a low risk of flooding, but it is still the right thing to do. You would never get on a plane that you were told had a one per cent risk of crashing, or even a 0.01 per cent risk. Risks from floods can be harder to imagine than a plane crash, and people respond differently to risks that they can't imagine.”