AN “EXTRAORDINARY risk” alarm has been sounded after a brutal storm ravaged a Brit holiday hotspot – with the terrifying deluge bursting river banks and sweeping cars away.
Storm Francis tore through Costa del Sol in southern Spain as it dumped up to 200mm of rain in some regions – before authorities issued an urgent red alert.
Locals were sent alarming notifications on their phones, warning them of the looming “extraordinary flood risk”.
Jaw-dropping footage showed the horror storm turning streets into streams as muddy waves filled the roads.
In Malaga, one shocking clip showed an entire apartment block filling with water after it was engulfed by rain.
Emergency workers desperately tried to drain the property as huge torrents of brown water were seen tearing through the building.
At least 12 families were evacuated from the complex after part of the building in Monda collapsed.
One stunned local looked over the balcony and watched on in awe as the unbelievable storm destroyed his home.
In another gob-smacking video, a car was seen being swept away by the fierce waves in Estepona.
Firefighters used ropes to traverse the vicious currents and make sure no one was inside the vehicle.
The astonishing footage showed the usually calm Velerin River – which Storm Francis had turned into a raging body of rainwater.
The Estepona region saw more than 30mm of rainfall in the first few hours of Saturday, according to the weather agency.
Locals reported flooding in doorways, communal areas and lifts.
In Cadiz, local authorities ordered the evacuation of around 470 homes near the Guadarranque reservoir amid fears of devastating floods.
And in Coin, a bridge above the Rio Grande collapsed following the ruthless storm.
Several roads across the Costa del Sol region were also shut down due to the devastating floods.
Dramatic footage showed La Valenciana bridge missing its central section after it was beaten to bits by the brutal weather.
Emergency services also rescued a driver from floodwater in a tunnel near Malaga Airport after they were left trapped inside their car.
The extraordinary weather comes just one week after three people died in Costa del Sol while trying to cross swollen rivers.
Weather Agency Aemet issued a red warning due to the biblical floods.
They also expect Spain to be hit by more cold weather – with some areas likely to see snowfall.
Large sections of Andalucia, Valencia, Castilla-La Mancha, Catalunya, Asturias, Galicia and the Basque Country could see around 5cm of the white stuff.
Some regions have already been blanketed in snow as temperatures dropped below freezing.
A yellow alert remains in place between Almeria and Malaga for more torrential rain.
By Monday, Malaga authorities said they’d responded to over 210 reports.
Most of them were related to homes and roads being flooded.
