Water and mud swept through Madrigueras after heavy rain on Friday. A 102-year-old woman died after floodwater entered her home, while early reports about five missing people awaited confirmation from emergency officials.
On Friday afternoon, rain sent water and mud through Madrigueras in Albacete. Floodwater rose more than one metre inside a ground-floor home, where a 102-year-old woman died. Vehicles were swept through the streets. Early reports mentioned five missing people, but accounts from the first hours differed. The figure still required confirmation from the latest official emergency updates.
The town has about 4,000 residents. Images released by the Guardia Civil show cars pushed into piles and roads turned into channels. Water also entered a local health centre. The Red Cross joined the response.
Emergency crews carried out around 90 rescues or evacuations of residents trapped in homes by the flooding, according to regional and international reports.
About 90 rescues or evacuations were carried out, according to regional and international reports. The damage did not reach the scale of the dana that struck Valencia in 2024. Madrigueras still suffered a confirmed death. Local and regional outlets called the flooding one of the most serious events in the area in recent decades. They also said its impact was smaller than the Valencia disaster.
Castilla-La Mancha's regional government recorded approximately 142 litres per square metre as the rain overwhelmed parts of the town. Emergency services then moved into recovery work. El País, Euronews and regional media reported the woman's death and the exceptional intensity of the flooding.
Crews helped residents affected by the water. They removed vehicles that had been stacked or pushed across the streets. Basements and garages were damaged. The woman was found inside her home after the water rose to more than roughly one metre.
The Castilla-La Mancha government activated the METEOCAM emergency plan after AEMET warnings of intense rain and storms. Guardia Civil units, GEACAM teams and other services were deployed for assistance, security, clearing operations and recovery work alongside the Red Cross.
Pedro Sánchez sent condolences and support to the woman's relatives in a message on X. He said the national government was closely monitoring the situation. Severe rainfall had also caused serious damage in several parts of Spain.
Across the country, the weather has swung sharply. An earlier weather report described heat in Madrid, with temperatures reaching 35 degrees, while destructive storms hit the east. In Madrigueras, this was not a forecast on paper. Homes flooded, streets were blocked and families waited for news.
AEMET warned of very strong and persistent showers and storms across eastern Spain. The warnings kept pressure on emergency teams. Authorities also worked to establish what had happened on the ground, including the disputed early reports about missing people.
The water rose fast. A resident died, vehicles were displaced and essential services were disrupted. Emergency crews carried out dozens of rescues and evacuations. Madrigueras faced a serious flood emergency in Albacete, and the confirmed death showed why the weather warning needed immediate attention.
