The rapid intervention of the Civil Guard and Civil Protection has allowed the rescue of two people of foreign nationality, 78 and 79 years old, who were trapped inside their caravan with their two dogs after being surprised by a flood on the beach. de Quitapellejos, in the municipal area of Cuevas del Almanzora.
The notice was received at 3:40 p.m. on March 1 through the Almería Civil Guard Service Operational Central (062), after being alerted by the 112 Andalusia emergency service. The person who contacted the emergency services, a woman in evident nervousness and with difficulties communicating in Spanish, reported that the water had reached the windows of the vehicle.
Immediately, a rescue device was activated with territorial patrols of the Pulpí Civil Guard and Cuevas del Almanzora, in coordination with the Command and Control Center (062) and with the support of Civil Protection from the Cuevas del Almanzora City Council.
Agents established telephone contact with the trapped woman, who, despite the language barrier, managed to indicate her possible location. One of the Civil Guard agents was able to communicate with her in English, obtaining key details that allowed the search to be focused on an isolated area of the Quitapellejos beach, in the Almería town of Palomares.
After locating the caravan, half hidden in a pine forest and surrounded by water and mud, the agents observed the two people inside, who were signaling with their mobile phones and camping flashlights. Given the dangerousness of the situation and the increase in the water level, which reached the waist of the agents, a lifeline was improvised with a network for agricultural use to reach the caravan and place life jackets for those affected.
After articulating the rescue of the two people and their dogs, the assisted persons were transferred to a security zone enabled by agents of the Civil Guard and Civil Protection. Due to the signs of hypothermia and disorientation they presented, they were urgently evacuated to receive medical attention.
Interventions in the Levante Almeriense due to heavy rains
Yesterday, as a consequence of heavy rainfall and the rise of rivers and boulevards, the Civil Guard carried out more than twenty relief actions in the Levante Almeriense. These interventions were aimed at rescuing people trapped inside their vehicles, assisting residents affected by floods in their homes, and caring for those who were isolated due to landslides on various roads.
The towns most affected by these incidents were Palomares, Villaricos, Albox, Cuevas del Almanzora and Vera, where agents, in close collaboration with the emergency and Civil Protection services, deployed rescue devices to guarantee the safety of the population and minimize the effects of this adverse weather situation.
Recommendations for alert situations due to heavy rains
Faced with episodes of intense rainfall and the risk of floods, the Civil Guard reminds citizens of the importance of following a series of recommendations to guarantee their safety and minimize risks:
• Avoid unnecessary displacement: If it is not essential, it is advisable not to use the vehicle and stay in a safe place. In case you have to circulate, exercise caution, reduce speed and avoid flood areas such as river channels, boulevards or underpasses.
• Do not cross flooded areas: Never try to cross flooded areas on foot or by vehicle, as the force of the water can drag you.
• Stay informed: Follow the indications of official organizations, such as Civil Protection, the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) and the Civil Guard, through official media and social networks.