Heavy Rains/Floods Wash Away Spanish towns

[Pastor Dale Morgan]

*Perilous Times and Global Warming

Heavy Rains/Floods Wash Away Spanish towns*

From correspondents in Madrid

May 25, 2007 01:59am
Article from: Reuters

HEAVY rains flooded Spanish towns yesterday, stranding thousands as
roads and railways were submerged and washing away olive trees and
vineyards.

Hail and rain destroyed hundreds of millions of euros worth of crops.

Farmers in Extremadura near the border with Portugal said fruit harvests
like early cherries had been ruined.

Over 400 people fled their homes in the town of Alcazar de San Juan as a
dyke came close to bursting in the normally parched province of Ciudad
Real, south of Madrid.

Thunderstorms were set to keep pounding the central grain and wine
producing region of Castilla La Mancha until the weekend.

A wetter-than-normal spring had helped to alleviate drought conditions
in central and southern Spain.

However, as much rain has fallen on the central region's rolling plains
in the last few days as in the whole of 2005.

Train services, including links between Madrid and major Mediterranean
coast cities, were suspended yesterday as tracks disappeared under water.

“We can't say when they will restart because it's still raining,” a
spokesman for the state railway operator Renfe said.

Farm union Asaja reported extensive damage.

“Overflowing rivers have dragged away centuries old olive trees and
destroyed hillsides,” it said on its web page.

Grain crops had been doing well thanks to a mild, wet spring and
harvesting had been set to start next week in the south.

If the ground is too wet that will be delayed.

Over 100,000ha of crops have been damaged in Castilla La Mancha, the
Europa Press news agency quoted the deputy president of the regional
government saying.

Asaja put damage in the region at up to €160 million ($261 million).

The meteorological institute predicted more heavy rains and storms
today, easing gradually over the weekend.