The Sevillano town of Écija found itself perilously close to certain Lecrín Valley pueblos when the river Genil, thanks to intense and relentless rains, burst its banks, swamping 800 houses.

With more than 107 litres per cubic meter falling within 12 hours, the town was turned into a Venetian epigone without, of course, that famous gondolas to help out.

[mappress] As local services were unable to deal with the problem, the army, or perhaps, more precisely, the navy was called in to help dry out the community. Neighbours tried their level best to keep the water out but at times like these there is little one can do to stay dry.

People were being rescued from all over and many were sheltered in a local sports complex. Roads were closed to all but maritime traffic. Rain is one thing but these deluges are all too common, and when the heavens open, I don’t know if it is a God’s wrath but something up there is definitely irritated with us down below.