Additionally, the A-6 is in a critical situation, with water barely 80 centimetres from the roadway, while on the M-40 the margin has dangerously reduced to just 5 centimetres. Authorities do not rule out the possibility that, if the rainfall continues at the same intensity, more road closures could occur on other key arteries in the capital.
The silent threat of melting ice exacerbates the crisis
The Government delegate in Madrid, Francisco MartÃn, visited the El Pardo and Manzanares dams, emphasizing the complexity of the situation. The melting of the Guadarrama mountain range, coupled with the arrival of additional rainfall, could accelerate the flow of the Manzanares River, further jeopardizing the stability of the reservoirs.
To relieve the pressure, the Tagus River Basin Authority has intensified the release of water from the El Pardo reservoir. While this strategy seeks to reduce the impact upstream, it also keeps the most vulnerable areas of the capital on edge.
Crisis cabinet and contingency plans: Madrid's response to the storm
The severity of the storm has prompted the Integrated Operational Coordination Center (Cecopi) to hold emergency meetings with the Community of Madrid's Security and Emergency Agency (ASEM 112). Authorities were working against the clock to implement strategies aimed at minimizing the potential effects of flooding.
The next few hours are expected to be crucial. Thursday night and Friday may be the most critical periods, as forecasts indicate an increase in rainfall and the possibility of snow at the highest elevations in the mountains.
If this scenario continues, the risk of the reservoir network collapsing would increase significantly.