The natural disaster caused by storm Leonardo has drastically altered daily life in Spain. In Andalusia, classes have been canceled in almost all schools except those in the province of Almería, and thousands of residents have been forced to leave their homes in Cádiz, Málaga, and Jaén. Road travel has been paralyzed: dozens of highways are inaccessible to vehicles, creating serious difficulties for locals and emergency response services.
Authorities have taken emergency measures to minimize risks for the population. In some areas, evacuations were carried out urgently as water levels rose rapidly. As a result, more than 3,000 people were placed in temporary shelters. Meanwhile, road crews are working around the clock to clear and restore access, but weather conditions continue to complicate the situation.
Roads and Transport
Snowdrifts and heavy rain have blocked 76 roads, including 11 of the country’s main transport arteries. Another 38 secondary routes are completely closed due to flooding and landslides. Drivers are strongly advised to avoid travel in the affected regions, as road conditions remain extremely dangerous.
In some populated areas, public transport service has been suspended, while taxi and delivery services are operating intermittently. Drivers caught on the road are forced to look for alternative routes or wait for assistance on the roadside. Authorities warn that the situation could worsen if the precipitation does not stop in the coming hours.
Response and aftermath
Local administrations and civil protection services are coordinating evacuation efforts and ensuring safety. Temporary shelters have been set up in sports halls and schools where victims are receiving necessary aid. Some districts have declared a state of emergency, allowing authorities to quickly mobilize additional resources.
Experts note that such weather events are becoming increasingly frequent and unpredictable. Residents of the affected provinces are expressing concern, with many fearing a repeat of last year’s floods, which caused massive damage. Authorities promise to keep the situation under control but admit that nature is setting its own terms.
Context and comparisons
In recent years, Spain has faced a growing frequency of extreme weather events. Storms and heavy rains are increasingly causing mass evacuations, transport disruptions, and the closure of educational institutions. In 2024, a similar situation unfolded in Galicia and the north of the country, where heavy snowfall blocked dozens of roads and led to canceled classes. The aftermath took several weeks to address, and the damage to infrastructure was estimated at millions of euros.
Reflecting on last winter’s events, when storm Kristin paralyzed key highways, it becomes clear: the country’s infrastructure is under serious strain. Authorities are forced to reconsider plans to modernize the road network and alert systems. Safety concerns and preparedness for future natural disasters remain in the spotlight.
Previously, we reported in detail how storm Kristin set off alarms in various regions and brought traffic to a standstill on major national routes. In the article “Natural disaster paralyzes key Spanish highways: regions on high alert” the causes of such serious consequences were analyzed and possible changes in traffic management were discussed. These incidents became a precursor to the current situation, with another storm once again testing Spain’s resilience.
