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Rainstorm in Spain leaves at least one dead, areas flooded and hundreds evacuated

Heavy rains caused by storm Laurence continue to rip through Spain, causing at least one death, overflowing rivers, accidents, blocked roads and evacuations in several regions.

In the Spanish city of Seville, the search for a couple who went missing after being swept away by a stream in the municipality of Constantina has taken a tragic turn. Firefighters found a body near the area where the overturned car was found, although it has not yet been identified as one of the two missing people. The car was swept away by the water and was found several metres from its initial location.

In the neighbouring province of Córdoba, another man has been missing since Monday afternoon, after going out for a bike ride. Authorities have intensified their search efforts.

Guadalhorce and Campanillas rivers overflow in Málaga

The province of Málaga has been one of the worst affected by the storm. The Guadalhorce and Campanillas riverbanks burst following the heavy rain, leading to the evacuation of several neighbourhoods in Málaga and Cártama. In the early hours of the morning, the town of Coín recorded the highest amount of rainfall in the country, with 55.4 litres per square metre.

In addition, the suspension of classes in a dozen schools and the closure of more than 30 roads, including a 32-kilometre stretch of the Seville-Cádiz motorway, signal the storm's impact. Emergency services continued to work to evacuate around 370 homes in the areas near the overflowing rivers.

Bus accident on the A-7 in Murcia leaves several people injured

In the Murcia region, the rains have also caused accidents on the roads. An Imserso bus carrying passengers overturned on the A-7, injuring several people. Emergency services quickly arrived at the scene to attend to those affected. This accident adds to a list of incidents caused by the extreme weather conditions, which have affected thousands of people in the area.

"Some normality" in Madrid, but the Guadarrama River worries authorities

Meanwhile, in Madrid, the regional minister for the Environment, Agriculture and the Interior, Carlos Novillo, reported that the region is in a situation of "some normality", although the storm is still a challenge for emergency services.

Novillo explained that while the situation is not as critical as in other parts of Spain, "the worst at the moment is in the west," where large amounts of rain have accumulated. The region continues to closely monitor the levels of the Guadarrama River, which has experienced a significant rise in the last few hours. Emergency teams remain alert to the possibility of further overflows.

Forecast: the arrival of squall Martinho

The weather is expected to give a brief respite on Wednesday, but forecasters are predicting that squall Martinho, the thirteenth major storm of the season, will arrive on Thursday. This squall will bring more rain and strong winds, which could further worsen the situation in a region already saturated by rainfall.

Authorities have call for the public to take preventive measures. A total of 52 roads were closed to traffic due to the heavy rains, according to the General Directorate of Traffic.

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