Torrential rains cause flooding, road closures and maximum alert with the Ayagaures Dam spillway that will increase the flow of the ravine in San Bartolomé de Tirajana

 

The Department of Security and Emergency Services of the San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council is advising residents of the Ayagaures Ravine to remain attentive to official announcements and to prepare themselves and gather the necessary supplies to cope with the increased volume of water in the ravine due to the release of water from the dam's spillway in the coming hours. The Ayagaures Reservoir is currently collecting all the excess water from the La Gambuesa Reservoir, and the rise in its water level has been significantly rapid since last Sunday. Residents are urged to exercise extreme caution.

 

The overflowing of the Fataga Dam, caused by the rainfall brought by Storm Therese during much of Tuesday night and early morning in the summit and mid-altitude areas of the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, has finally led to the overflowing of the ravine in the Arteara plain and the subsequent preventative and safety closure of the GC-60 highway at that point. The traffic ban affects both uphill and downhill vehicles.

 

On the other hand, these same rains have also increased the water levels in the Ayagaures and Chamoriscán ravines, causing, as happened again this Monday, the precautionary closure of the Los Palmitos road and the main access bridge to the villages of Lomo Gordo and Lomo Perera. Residents of both villages are using the track adjacent to the Water Park as an alternative route.

 

Southern Ecopark

 

Among the most significant incidents caused by the recent rains, and also by the accumulation of previous ones, the closure of the South Ecopark due to flooding of the access road stands out. Work is underway to resolve this situation. However, the Department of Sanitation is requesting the full cooperation of the residents of this municipality, given the possibility that the Ecopark closure may be prolonged and that the regular household waste collection service may not be able to operate. This closure of the South Ecopark has prevented municipal waste collection trucks from unloading, with the exception of four that, with authorization from the Island Council, have been able to do so at the North Ecopark. Furthermore, all indications are that the rains will intensify considerably on the eastern slopes, which could further worsen access and the work at the South Ecopark.

 

The rainfall that has soaked the area of ​​Juan Grande and Castillo del Romeral caused a risky situation in the latter town, where firefighters had to assist two people who ultimately escaped unharmed.

 

Access to Sonnenland

 

The accumulation of water also caused the flooding of the low access bridge to Sonnenland and its closure to traffic, although the rapid intervention of the Fire Service with drainage pumps resolved the situation and traffic has been able to be restored.

 

 

Emergency shelter

 

The rains and overflowing ravines have also led to the temporary shelter set up by the City Council in the El Tablero Sports Pavilion due to the storm reaching 64% occupancy. Currently, the Red Cross is assisting 32 people and 5 pets there.

 

Beaches

The situation of the beaches, which continue with red flags and a ban on swimming, has also worsened, especially at the mouths of the ravines, due to the dumping of vegetation debris, which is very visible mainly on the beaches of Las Burras, San Agustín and Maspalomas, but also on the small beaches of the breakwaters between El Cochino and El Inglés.

 

Detachments

 

Both Mayor Marco Aurelio Pérez and the Councilor for Public Safety are urging residents to exercise extreme caution and avoid any non-essential travel, especially in the mid-altitude areas and flood-prone zones. They also strongly advise against traveling through landslide-prone areas, as the volume of accumulated rainfall makes dangerous landslides highly likely.

 

The residents of Los Sitios de Abajo have also been informed that, due to the overflow of the La Sorrueda Dam, they have access via Casas Blancas.