A red weather warning for 'extreme danger' has been issued for Spain's Costa del Sol, a popular destination for British holidaymakers, as severe storms bring torrential rain and widespread flooding.
Spain's State Meteorological Agency has warned that up to 120 litres of water per square metre could accumulate within 12 hours. The rare red alert covers 27 municipalities in the Malaga region, with the Costa del Sol and Guadalhorce among the worst-hit areas.
Floodwaters have risen 'several metres in height' in some places, turning streets into rivers of mud and debris. Residents and tourists have been trapped indoors, with cars submerged and trees uprooted.
Orange warnings for rain remain in place for Ronda, Antequera, Axarquía, the Granada coast and Almería. This latest weather disturbance follows Storm Alice, which caused devastating flash flooding, and comes as Spain still reels from deadly floods that killed 220 people.
Elsewhere in Europe, Mount Etna in Sicily has erupted, sending huge ash clouds into the air. Activity began on Boxing Day, according to Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology.
