Holidaymakers seeking sunshine in one of Spain’s beloved hotspots have been greeted by something rather unforeseen.
Malaga, a favourite destination for its inviting beaches and vibrant ambience, is facing an unnerving challenge with an invasion of rats running rampant through its bustling streets and sunlit squares. The increase in rodent sightings has set off alarms among both residents and visitors, with the areas of Churriana, Haza de Cuevas (Carranque), and Parque de Huelin witnessing a notable surge.
Rats in Malaga have grown bold enough to weave through crowds and intimidate children, according to local reports. Maria del Carmen Aguilar told SUR about the alarming interaction between the rodents and park-goers at Parque de Huelin: “We are afraid because the rats run between our feet, as happened last week to one of the children (in the Parque de Huelin).”
Experts, as noted in the Express, attribute the proliferation of rats to the escalating temperatures brought about by the climate emergency, with Europe contending with intense heatwaves that send temperatures soaring above 40C, amplifying health hazards.
The Spanish Health Ministry’s Hector Tejero offers a grim preview of the problem, emphasizing the lethal consequences of such high temperatures: “The heat is killing 3,000 people a year and it’s going to get worse. But while exposure to extreme heat is going to rise, we can also step up our adaptation to it.”, reports the Mirror.
Mr Tejero commented: “Although it’s hotter in Spain than it was 20 years ago, fewer people are dying because homes are better adapted, because we have air conditioning, and because people are getting into a culture of dealing with the heat.”
Addressing the challenge of pests in Malaga, city councillor Penelope Gomez has recognised that rodent infestations are not a localised problem but one seen across Europe. She recently proclaimed in a council session an escalated effort and investment by the environmental department to combat these issues, which includes increasing the budget for rodent eradication from €142,000 to a hefty €400,000.
Furthermore, local official Francisco Giron remarked on an uptick in cockroach populations and shared his worries regarding mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus, particularly after several fatalities attributed to the virus in Andalusia. Joining the discourse, Councillor Begona Medina has emphasised her concern about the growing figures of rodents and insects, urging Gomez for further details on the mosquito variant spreading the West Nile virus.