Historical image: the Montejaque dam begins to discharge after reaching its capacity limit

The situation that has kept the Serranía de Ronda on edge for days has entered a new phase. The Caballeros dam, also known as the Hundidero dam, in Montejaque, has reached its capacity limit and has begun to discharge through its spillways, after the intense rainfall recorded overnight.

The continued rise in the reservoir's level has triggered this safety system, thus clearing any doubts about its operation when needed. The water level had been progressively rising in an area with the ground completely saturated after several episodes of consecutive rainfall.

In this regard, the Andalusian Regional Government has reported that the siphon mechanism of the infrastructure, built in 1924, operated at 9:02 AM when they came into charge, after water entered the spillway system at approximately 8:42 AM, about 22 centimeters from overflowing.

Additionally, they explained that "water is flowing as expected through the systems of the Hundidero Cave, for about 8 kilometers of galleries, and exiting through the Gato Cave with an estimated discharge rate initially thought to be 345 m3/s, but currently it is flowing at 200 m3/s." The Andalusian government has added that "the attenuation of the cave system is even better than anticipated."

Both the dam and the Guadiaro river remain controlled by technical teams, environmental agents, and Civil Guard officers in case any situation arises that requires special action, although so far it has not been necessary.

Given this scenario, emergency management officials are maintaining preventive evacuations in the neighborhoods of the Benaoján and Jimera de Líbar stations, where more than 150 people have been out of their homes for several days due to the risk of a massive discharge. Additionally, on Thursday night, the evacuation of the front line of houses at the Cortes de la Frontera Station was also ordered as a precaution.

Hours later, residents of the Benaoján Station were able to return to their homes starting at 4:00 PM, once it was confirmed that the Guadiaro river was within its banks after having received contributions from the Montejaque dam and with no further risk of flooding.

In Ronda, about 80 people have been sheltered, both in the Fuerte sports pavilion and various tourist accommodations, since the Andalusian Regional Government proceeded with their evacuation due to the risk of flooding. During these days, their basic needs have been met while the preventive device remained active.

Until the previous day, the dam was just 30 centimeters from overflowing and was under constant monitoring, both of the dam itself and the surrounding area and aquifer. Authorities insisted that one could not "let down their guard," despite a slight meteorological respite, because the ground is saturated and any new rainfall could quickly increase the flow.

With the start of the discharge through the spillways, the operation continues monitoring the evolution of the reservoir and the river downstream, waiting for the progressive lowering of the water level to allow, in the coming days, the safe rehousing of the affected residents.

Relief among the residents

The residents of the area are experiencing relief during a "historic" moment that had not occurred in the more than 100 years that this infrastructure has been in place, as due to leaks suffered by the ground on which it sits, it has never been able to operate or fill completely.

Many breathed a sigh of relief after learning that the drainage systems were functioning properly and the excess water was directed towards the Guadiaro river without also causing excessive problems, although it did significantly increase its flow.

"We have had some very bad days," acknowledged the councilor for Civil Protection in Benaoján, Jacinto López, while monitoring the evolution of the rise of the Guadiaro before reaching the Benaoján Station.

Many residents and onlookers did not hesitate to come to the area to witness the water discharge from the reservoir firsthand. "It's impressive," one of them stated.