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, and the figure still awaited confirmation in 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.
About 90 rescues or evacuations were carried out for residents trapped in their homes by the flooding, information from regional and international reports. Madrigueras suffered a confirmed death, though the damage did not reach the scale of the dana that struck Valencia in 2024. Local and regional outlets called the flooding one of the most serious events in the area in recent decades, while noting 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 shifted to recovery work. El País and Euronews reported the woman's death and the exceptional intensity of the flooding, as did regional media.
Crews helped residents affected by the water and 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 more than one metre.
The Castilla-La Mancha government activated the METEOCAM emergency plan after AEMET warnings of intense rain and storms. Guardia Civil units and GEACAM teams were deployed alongside the Red Cross and other services to assist residents and secure the area. Crews also cleared roads and began recovery work.
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, floodwaters filled homes and blocked streets, leaving families waiting for news.
AEMET warned of very strong and persistent showers and storms across eastern Spain, keeping 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 as floodwaters displaced vehicles and disrupted impressive services. 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.
