Madrid on high alert: Potentially historic flash flood event unfolding
Traffic in Madrid came to a halt on Thursday following the closure of the M-30 and M-40 motorways due to the flooding of the Manzanares River.
The impact of Storm Martinho has disrupted daily life in Madrid. Persistent rainfall over the past few days, combined with melting snow in the Sierra de Guadarrama, has led to an unprecedented rise in the Manzanares River, potentially resulting in a historic surge.
The Madrid City Council is closely monitoring the rising flow of the Manzanares and Jarama rivers, which has been exacerbated by the release of water from the Pardo Dam. Pressure is expected to continue increasing through the day Thursday due to anticipated rainfall in the mountains and the ongoing melting of snow.
In light of this situation, the City Council has urged citizens to exercise extreme caution and avoid unregulated areas of the Manzanares River, specifically from Mingorrubio to the Puente de los Franceses Bridge.
The Manzanares River at its limit: Vulnerable areas at risk
Since Wednesday night, the Madrid Emergency Department has strengthened precautionary measures in the unregulated sections of the river, particularly between Mingorrubio and the Puente de los Franceses Bridge. The combination of persistent rainfall and the release of water from dams has caused the water level to rise to alarming heights.
In response to the situation, access to pedestrian paths and areas near the riverbed has been restricted. Municipal Police drones are patrolling the area to monitor the water level in real time. Authorities are maintaining heightened vigilance at this critical juncture in the capital, where the threat of flooding is imminent.
Road closures
Given the magnitude of the situation, Madrid City Council has ordered the preventive closure of the road linking the M-30 with the M-40 at kilometre 25. The restriction, which began Wednesday night and continued until early Thursday morning, aims to prevent incidents due to possible flooding of the road.
Additionally, the A-6 is in a critical situation, with water barely 80 centimetres from the roadway, while on the M-40 the margin has dangerously reduced to just 5 centimetres. Authorities do not rule out the possibility that, if the rainfall continues at the same intensity, more road closures could occur on other key arteries in the capital.
The silent threat of melting ice exacerbates the crisis
The Government delegate in Madrid, Francisco Martín, visited the El Pardo and Manzanares dams, emphasizing the complexity of the situation. The melting of the Guadarrama mountain range, coupled with the arrival of additional rainfall, could accelerate the flow of the Manzanares River, further jeopardizing the stability of the reservoirs.
To relieve the pressure, the Tagus River Basin Authority has intensified the release of water from the El Pardo reservoir. While this strategy seeks to reduce the impact upstream, it also keeps the most vulnerable areas of the capital on edge.
Crisis cabinet and contingency plans: Madrid's response to the storm
The severity of the storm has prompted the Integrated Operational Coordination Center (Cecopi) to hold emergency meetings with the Community of Madrid's Security and Emergency Agency (ASEM 112). Authorities were working against the clock to implement strategies aimed at minimizing the potential effects of flooding.
The next few hours are expected to be crucial. Thursday night and Friday may be the most critical periods, as forecasts indicate an increase in rainfall and the possibility of snow at the highest elevations in the mountains.
If this scenario continues, the risk of the reservoir network collapsing would increase significantly.
Public Transportation as an alternative: Recommendations for citizens
In light of the potential for further road closures on the M-30, M-40, and A-6 motorways, the Regional Transport Consortium has enhanced its public transportation services to facilitate mobility within the capital. Citizens are urged to avoid unnecessary travel and to stay informed through official channels to monitor the storm's developments in real time.
Editor's note: This article was translated from Spanish to English from El Tiempo. You can read the original here.