Heavy rains and gale-force winds that hit the Extremadura region have once again exposed the vulnerability of Spain’s road infrastructure. On the stretch between Berzocana and Logrosán in the province of Cáceres, a massive sinkhole suddenly formed, swallowing a passenger car. The woman driving was injured and rushed to a medical facility for emergency care. The incident prompted an immediate response from emergency services and ignited renewed debate about road conditions amid a changing climate.
The sinkhole appeared at kilometer 7.5 of highway CC-428, where part of the roadway simply vanished due to a landslide caused by the storm. As a result, this section is now completely closed to traffic, and repair work is expected to take several days. Local authorities have already sent in specialists to assess the damage and investigate the reasons behind such extensive destruction. Drivers are advised to choose alternative routes, while road services are operating in emergency mode.
Consequences of the storm
Road conditions across the region remain tense. In addition to CC-428, several other routes in Cáceres are closed: CC-146 is completely flooded near Zarza la Mayor, while CC-437 is blocked due to snowdrifts. On the A-5 highway, which connects Madrid to the Portuguese border, a sinkhole has also been detected, restricting traffic to the right lane between kilometers 242 and 243 toward Badajoz. Landslides are complicating travel on CC-232, and rockfalls and new sinkholes have disrupted EX-208 and CC-436.
In the neighboring province of Badajoz, the situation is equally challenging: several roads are blocked due to flooding. These include the BA-074 near Granja de Torrehermosa, the BA-162 in Villanueva de la Serena, as well as sections of the EX-106 and BA-142. Authorities warn of further flooding risks and urge caution.
Emergency response and recovery efforts
Firefighters from Trujillo, Civil Guard patrols, and a medical team arrived at the scene in Cáceres. Road service crews are also involved, assessing the damage and developing a recovery plan. According to provincial administration officials, the highway will remain closed indefinitely until the landslide’s aftermath is fully eliminated and the roadbed is thoroughly inspected.
In recent years, extreme weather events have increasingly caused similar incidents on Spain’s roads. There was the case with the railway service in Cataluña, when a sudden failure in the Rodalies system in Barcelona triggered a transport collapse and raised concerns over infrastructure reliability. Such incidents highlight the need to modernize and step up inspections of roads and transport routes.
Background and similar incidents
Road washouts and landslides in Spain are becoming increasingly common, especially during periods of heavy rain and storms. In recent months, incidents of roadway collapses have been reported across various regions, leading to temporary isolation of communities and significant disruptions to transportation. In some cases, it has taken weeks or even months to restore infrastructure. Experts point out that such incidents require not only urgent repairs but also a revision of road design standards to address new climate-related risks. Regional authorities are facing a growing need to respond quickly to the aftermath of severe weather in order to minimize damage and ensure the safety of residents.
