Expats In Spain Get Previews Of The Effects Of Global Warming

Expats in the Andalusian city of Fuengirola whose properties were hit hard by Storm Gloria are now enduring continuing power cuts.

Lengthy power cuts are impeding expat residents’ efforts to repair storm damage and tidy up after the massive storm bore down on the popular region, with those affected unable even to get in touch with their local electricity supplier. It’s not just the outages themselves, it’s that the power comes for a while and then goes off without warning. According to one supply company, as soon as one area is fixed, another blows as a result.

One Scots resident attempting to prepare a Burns Night event at his bar told local media he’s got 300 haggises to prepare and cook, adding he’d started early and the outages in his area weren’t lasting long. However, he’s not at all happy, as Burns’ Night is one event Scottish expats don’t want to miss under any circumstances.

Others are angry they’re unable to get updates about the power supply as no-one’s answering the local office phones, meaning they can’t get in touch with their friends in other areas to ensure they’re OK after the thunderstorms downpours and even snow. According to the suppliers, the power cuts are set to continue for most of the day.

It’s not just Fuengirola which is feeling the effect of Spain’s unusual winter weather patterns, as expats living in Malaga’s Cartama area are now flooded out due to a downpour which cause the Gaudalhorce River to burst its banks. In addition, another smaller river has inundated 12 homes, leaving 30 residents stranded on the wrong side of a bridge. Campanillas has been totally flooded by the metre-high walls of water which tore through the area, whilst Mijas expat residents woke up to find the surrounding hills white with frozen hail.