The first effects of the new DANA (DANA is a Spanish acronym for “high-altitude isolated depression” and refers to a weather system that can cause heavy rainfall and flooding in Spain) that has been hitting Andalusia since Monday have been felt in the province of Almería. According to the data provided by Emergencies 112 Andalusia, some forty incidents have been managed so far due to the rainfall, mainly in the Poniente area and the capital. Despite their number, none of them are particularly serious, according to the service attached to the Ministry of the Presidency.
Besides that, El Ejido, Vícar, Roquetas de Mar, also have been the municipalities most affected by the rains that fell during the afternoon. The storm caused some flooding of homes, businesses and basements, as well as problems in the road network and sewerage. The highlight has been the rescue of three people , one of them with reduced mobility, trapped under the Culebra bridge in Vícar, although they are all in good condition. The heavy rains in Balanegra have caused the Rambla de Los Infantes and the Rambla de Balanegra to overflow with a significant flow, causing several overflows as they pass through this municipality.
The A-7 highway will be closed on Monday for an indefinite period of time, after suffering damage from the DANA that hit the west on Monday afternoon. The Minister of Transport,
announced at 9pm the decision to close this artery as it passes through Balanegra. The heavy rains have caused the undermining of a drainage pipe, the leader announced on his profile on the social network X. Heavy vehicles will have to detour to the provisional route at the junction with exit 823 and can return to their usual route, which will mean an extra half hour for them.
The heavy rains have left significant accumulated precipitation in various parts of the province, with the Aguadulce area being one of those with the highest accumulation of precipitation.
In the Beninar Canal, 41.5 mm per square metre have been recorded in the last 12 hours, making it one of the areas with the highest accumulation of precipitation
in the entire province. In Gérgal, another of the areas with the highest incidence,
35.9 mm have been recorded during the same period of time. In addition, various problems on the province’s roads due to water accumulation have been reported to the 112 Emergency Telephone, which have been resolved throughout the afternoon. the Ministry of the Presidency, has been in effect the Special Emergency Plan for Flood Risk in Andalusia in the pre-emergency phase, Operational Situation 0, in view of the rainfall recorded today in Almería, and the activation of the yellow and orange meteorological warnings expected for the coming days.
This phase is fundamentally characterized by the monitoring of the phenomenon that has occurred or of the available forecasts and predictions , with the subsequent process of
informing the competent bodies and authorities in matters of civil protection, as well as the general population. Emergencias 112 Andalucía recommends taking extreme precautions and adopting some self-protection guidelines that help prevent risks and guarantee everyone’s safety. Municipal sources consulted by this newspaper have reported that the effects of this storm have begun to subside around 7:00 p.m., at which time the rain has practically stopped and the water accumulated in the streets has begun to disappear.
What does scripture tell us?
In a recent conversation with a colleague, the topic of Spain’s recent floods came up. She asked if I thought they could be a sign of divine judgment. While it’s impossible to say for certain, as only God truly knows, this question led me to reflect on the ways God sometimes leaves hints for us to consider.
It’s worth remembering what Jesus said about the collapse of the tower in Siloam (Luke 13:4). In that tragedy, 18 people lost their lives when the tower fell. Jesus clarified that they were not singled out for punishment but warned that without repentance, all would face similar fates.
However, the Bible does record instances where God exercises judgment over nations, especially those that harm Israel, His chosen people. Genesis 12:3 and Numbers 24:9 emphasize the protection God extends over Israel, calling them the “apple of His eye.” The prophet Ezekiel even recounts how nations like Tyre gloated over Israel’s misfortunes. While it was God’s role to discipline Israel, other nations were punished for exploiting Israel’s suffering—ancient Tyre itself was eventually destroyed as Ezekiel had foretold.
Throughout history, many nations have faced repercussions for their treatment of Israel and the Jewish people. During the Holocaust, as millions of Jews were mercilessly persecuted, Germany faced devastating destruction. Spain, too, has a difficult history regarding the Jewish people, marked by the brutalities of the Spanish Inquisition, which led to torture, execution, and exile for countless Jews, including my own ancestors.
In recent events, Spain has stirred controversy by formally recognizing a Palestinian state, which could be interpreted as supporting those who call for Israel’s destruction. Some leaders in Spain have even echoed slogans used by groups calling for the eradication of Israel—a painful and troubling stance given Spain’s past efforts to reconcile with Jewish descendants through the “Law of Return.”
Spain’s recent shift in stance contrasts with the perspective of former Spanish Prime Minister José María Aznar, who argued for Israel’s essential role in protecting Western freedoms against extremism. Aznar warned that if Israel were to fall, Western societies would be in jeopardy as well. Spain and neighboring Portugal had both taken positive steps in the past with their Laws of Return, allowing descendants of expelled Jews to reclaim their heritage. Yet now, those reconciliatory actions appear to be overshadowed by recent political choices.
Scripture reminds us that nations will ultimately be judged by God, especially for how they treat Israel (Joel 3:2). The Bible includes promises of blessing or judgment depending on each nation’s stance toward Israel. History reveals patterns of blessing for nations that supported Israel, such as Britain, which was blessed in its prime as it helped pave the way for Israel’s restoration. Conversely, Britain saw its influence wane when it restricted Jewish access to safety in the Holy Land during the Nazi era.
In a broader sense, this message should remind us that when nations ignore God’s guidance, they may invite judgment. The Bible’s teachings highlight the importance of treating Israel with respect and recognize the role Israel plays on the global stage. Nations are wise to heed these warnings.
