Storms have battered Spain, sending rivers over their banks and triggering landslides from Catalonia to Extremadura. Two people have died in Catalonia, where the storm hit hardest, Reuters and AFP report. Orange-level alerts are in force in four provinces, while more than 15 others are under yellow warnings covering heavy rain and storms, with strong winds also forecast.
In Catalonia, torrential rain killed two people. One died when a wall collapsed at a campsite in Tordera; another was trapped and killed in the parking area of their home in Montornés del Vallés, Barcelona. Firefighters are still searching for a person swept away in the riera de Pineda. Local authorities, cited by Reuters, describe the area as extremely dangerous, with conditions changing by the hour. Emergency crews remain on high alert.
Ávila is also struggling. The river Alberche burst its banks, flooding several towns. Orange alerts are in force for major flood risk. Damage from overflowing rivers and landslides has been reported in Casavieja and Monbeltrán, as well as El Barranco. Casavieja officials have issued urgent warnings, telling people not to travel. Emergency teams are responding to incidents including a car swept away by floodwaters; the driver survived.
Andalusia is also facing trouble. In Almería, rainfall has exceeded 60 litres per square metre in places such as Sierra de los Filabres and Bacares. The A-399 remains closed after water covered the stretch between the ramblas of Chirivel and Pino Blanco. Basic transport links are cut, making rescue work harder. Euronews reports that orange storm warnings were active in Almería and other southern provinces, where flooding led to road closures.
In Badajoz, streets have turned into rivers and roads are closed. The Junta de Extremadura activated the Inuncaex civil protection plan, while AEMET raised a red alert for torrential rain in La Serena and Tierra de Barros, as well as southern Badajoz. Emergency warnings went directly to mobile phones via the Es-Alert system as the red alert was issued. The alert was later downgraded to orange as the weather shifted, but emergency services are still monitoring the situation. The 112 service reports numerous roadblocks and urges caution on flooded streets. Regional sources say forecasts for the worst-hit parts of Badajoz reached up to 120 litres per square metre in just 12 hours, prompting the highest civil protection response.
Euronews reported that the floods are part of a broader storm cycle affecting several autonomous regions in succession. Just a day earlier, a 102-year-old woman died in Albacete due to flooding, while around 90 people were evacuated in some areas.
Across Castilla y León, the Agency of Civil Protection and Emergencies has put the whole region on alert, with more rain and storms expected. Residents are urged to stay alert as water builds up across towns and on roads, raising the risk of sudden floods and landslides.
Just weeks ago, record storms in the Mediterranean showed how exposed Spain’s infrastructure is to extreme weather. That pattern is worsening.
The crisis points to the need for stronger flood management and faster emergency response in Spain’s most exposed regions. With deaths confirmed and basic infrastructure at risk, coordinated action is urgent as climate extremes become more common.
