British tourist hotspot overrun with rats as locals 'too scared' to go to the park

Malaga is being plagued by a rodent infestation
-Credit: (Image: (Image: Getty))


Malaga, a Spanish city beloved by Brits for its pristine sandy beaches, warm weather, and rich culture, is currently facing a severe rodent problem that has prompted numerous complaints.

The issue has become so dire that the rodents are daringly scurrying between children's feet as they play in local parks. Residents in parts of Malaga, including Churriana, Haza de Cuevas (Carranque), and Parque de Huelin, are raising concerns over the growing number of rats and other vermin.

Maria del Carmen Aguilar, voicing the worries of mothers and grandmothers frequenting Parque de Huelin, expressed her fears to SUR, stating: "We are afraid because the rats run between our feet, as happened last week to one of the children (in the Parque de Huelin)."

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Experts believe that the rodent surge is linked to this year's significant rise in temperatures. European regions have been battling record-breaking heatwaves, with mercury soaring into the 40sC in many places.

Commenting on the health implications of such extreme temperatures, Hector Tejero, the lead on health and climate change at the Spanish Health Ministry, has warned: "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 Express.

"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."

Malaga city councillor Penelope Gomez highlighted that rodent issues are not unique to the region but a widespread problem across Europe.

During a council meeting, Gomez announced that the environment department plans to significantly boost its budget for rodent eradication, raising it from 142,000 euros to 400,000 euros (£119,187 to £335,740).

Francisco Giron, from the residents' association of Haza de Cuevas in Carranque, raised concerns about an uptick in cockroach populations and the mosquitoes responsible for transmitting the West Nile virus in Malaga.

The West Nile virus has been linked to seven fatalities in Andalusia.

Councillor Begona Medina expressed grave concerns regarding the surge in rodent and insect numbers, pressing Gomez for more details on the mosquito species that carries the West Nile virus.