The city of Jaén was hit by an intense storm on Tuesday afternoon, with over 40 liters per square meter recorded in just a few minutes in some areas. The meteorological phenomenon caused widespread flooding in numerous businesses, inundated streets, and forced residents and business owners to work together to minimize the substantial damage.
Establishments in the city center were the most affected, with flooded basements and, in some cases, water reaching up to 30 centimeters in height. The cafeteria at La Marquetería on San Clemente street suffered a sudden inundation. "I started seeing water coming down like a river, literally," recounted one of its employees, adding that within minutes the water reached 50 centimeters.
Customers had to take refuge on the upper floor while employees, family, and friends attempted to manually pump out the water due to a power outage that prevented the sump pumps from working. "There were about fifteen people helping here. Even the customers themselves asked if they could lend a hand," the employee expressed gratitude for. Despite damage to furniture and carpentry, they acknowledged they were fortunate not to have any machinery damaged.
At Sprinter, water entered rapidly through various areas of the store, particularly affecting the warehouse. Employees managed to move merchandise in time to prevent major losses. "Otherwise, it would have been a huge loss," stated one of the staff members, who considered the outcome could have been worse after more than an hour spent removing water.
The Papelería Espi suffered the worst economic consequences. According to its managers, the water entered "in a matter of seconds," reaching between ten and twelve centimeters inside, while outside, parked motorcycles were almost completely submerged. "We've been here for nine or ten years and this has never, ever happened to us before," they lamented, adding that many products had to be discarded, including merchandise for the back-to-school season and three affected photocopiers.
The Ilusiónate hair salon was also affected. "When I opened the door, water was flowing out in torrents," said one of the owners. The water reached a considerable height inside, affecting outlets, electrical equipment, and furniture. Despite the emotional blow and material damage, they highlighted the support from customers, who promised to return.
The Livvae sports center experienced flooding when the building's downspouts could not cope. "Instead of draining the water, they were filling up, and between 60 and 70 percent of the center was submerged," explained its manager. The rubber tiles were floating, and customers and staff immediately stopped their activities to help remove the water, demonstrating a strong community spirit.
