Overview

• AEMET identified a thermal downburst on August 17 that drove temperatures to 40.1 °C and unleashed hurricane-force gusts up to 86.8 km/h.
• Emergency services received multiple rescue calls and municipalities ordered beaches emptied in under 20 minutes as visitors sought safety.
• Beach lifeguards, Salvamento Marítimo, the Guardia Civil and private vessels rescued between five and seven people stranded at sea.
• Waterspouts and two tornados were reported off Motril, Salobreña and Torrenueva, hurling umbrellas, paddle boards and small craft.
• 112 Andalucía publicly denounced a circulating WhatsApp tsunami alert as entirely unfounded and urged residents to stop sharing the warning.