Woman falls down burst sewer drain, roads closed and drivers rescued from vehicles as Spain’s Costa Blanca put on ORANGE alert following new gota fría

THE FOURTH gota fría weather event this year has struck eastern Spain today, already causing freak flooding and road closures.

The worst rainfall has been concentrated in the northern coastal region of the Costa Blanca, with Oliva registering 71.7 l/m2, Villalonga 68.4 l/m2, and Javea 61.6 l/m2 since the this morning.

The Arenal beach area of Javea has been particularly badly hit, with road closures and Policía Local dispatched to rescue trapped drivers.

A woman has also reportedly fallen down a sewer drain after a manhole cover burst in the port area of Javea.

“The cover popped open and she fell in,” an eyewitness told the Olive Press.

Municipal street sweepers were soon dispatched to clean up the wet wipes and raw sewage spilling out on the Plaza Adolfo Suarez.

It comes as Spain’s Met Office has issued an orange weather warning for the Costa Blanca, in place until Wednesday.

AEMET predicts rainfall of 50 l/m2 for the Marina Alta region today, followed up by gale force winds lasting until the mid week.

Waves up to 4m area also predicted along the coastal region from Valencia down to Murcia.