If we say, “a mains burst” in Benalmádena, we would be failing miserably in describing the extraordinary amount of water involved.

Yesterday (Tuesday 4th) morning a mains pipe next to a hotel burst and threw out a geyser of water than reached five floors up. If you have seen the amount of water ejected from the Rules Dam through the large-bore outlet pipe, you would be getting a better idea.

The main dining room in the hotel was completely flooded and such was the amount of water pumping into the hotel that guests had to be evacuated. However, after ten minutes the gush slowed so that within 30 minutes they were allowed back into the soggy hotel.

The burst pipe next to Hotel Los Pacos in Benalmádena caused a supply problem in the housing area around the hotel during the rest of the day, admitted the municipal water company, Emabesa.

In fact, the necessary repairs are calculated to take between two and three days. The water company said that their water reserves were enough to reach the evening but after that there could be cuts around town in buildings that don’t have their own water tanks.

(News: Benalmadena, Costa del Sol, Malaga, Andalucia)