Spain evacuates thousands in fresh flood alarm

National weather office AEMET placed the southern province of Malaga and the northeastern Catalonia region on red alert -- the highest level -- for strong rains expected to last until Friday.

It forecasts up to 180 millimetres of rain could fall there in just 12 hours, while less severe downpours struck the eastern Valencia region already devastated by the floods.

Emergency services in the southern Andalusia region said more than 1,000 homes and almost 3,000 residents had been evacuated in and around the city of Malaga.