Storm Leonardo Brings Devastating Floods to Spain and Portugal
Heavy flooding across Spain and Portugal has resulted in one confirmed fatality and a missing child, as Storm Leonardo continues to batter the Iberian Peninsula with torrential rain and strong winds. The severe weather, which began on Tuesday, has caused widespread disruption, including road closures, property damage, and emergency evacuations.
Fatal Incident in Portugal and Search for Missing Girl in Spain
In Portugal's southern Alentejo region, a man believed to be around 70 years old lost his life on Wednesday after his vehicle was swept away by powerful floodwaters, according to local authorities. Meanwhile, in Spain's Malaga province, rescue teams are urgently searching for a young girl who was washed away in the Turvilla river while attempting to rescue her dog.
Malaga fire chief Manuel Marmolejo provided an update on the ongoing search efforts, stating, "We spent the whole afternoon and night yesterday searching in the river from the place where the girl fell in until the very end of the river. We found the dog, but not her." The search operation highlights the dangerous conditions created by the storm's intense rainfall.
Widespread Flooding and Infrastructure Damage
The impact of Storm Leonardo has been severe across multiple regions. In Spain's Granada province, the town of Huetor Tajar experienced significant flooding after a river burst its banks, submerging streets and nearby agricultural fields. Drone footage captured by the Civil Guard illustrates the extent of the inundation.
Additional affected areas include:
- San Roque in Cádiz, within the Andalusia region, where floodwaters have overwhelmed the town
- Ronda, where streets were drenched and the Guadalevin River swelled considerably
- Jimera de Libar, where residential properties have been flooded
- Los Barrios in Andalusia, which sustained damage from the storm's impact
Andalusia's emergency services reported attending to more than one million incidents by midnight on Wednesday. Regional authorities have identified fourteen rivers and ten dams at "extreme" risk of overflowing, according to Antonio Sanz, head of the regional government's interior department.
Transport Disruption and School Closures
The severe weather has caused significant disruption to transportation and education services across affected regions. Spain's state-owned railway operator, Renfe, has suspended some high-speed train services in Andalucía due to the adverse conditions. Additionally, schools throughout Andalucia have been closed, with the exception of those in Almeria province, as a precautionary measure.
Further Storms Forecast and Previous Storm Damage
Meteorological authorities warn that the Iberian Peninsula faces continued severe weather, with Storm Marta expected to strike the region over the weekend. This forms part of what Spanish weather agency Aemet describes as a "storm train" affecting the area this winter.
The region is still recovering from previous severe weather events. In Portugal, reconstruction costs following last week's Storm Kristin alone could exceed €4 billion (£3.47 billion), according to economy minister Manuel Castro Almeida. Storm Kristin resulted in six fatalities and left thousands without power.
Portugal's National Civil Protection agency reported at least 70 incidents by Thursday morning related to the current flooding. In southern Portugal's Alcacer do Sal, residents were forced to wade through waist-deep water after successive storms caused the River Sado to breach its banks.
Community Impact and Personal Accounts
The flooding has had a profound effect on local communities, with restaurant terraces completely submerged and sandbags deployed to protect homes and businesses from water ingress. Resident Maria Cadacha described the unprecedented situation, saying, "I've never seen anything like this. It's surreal. There are a lot of people here, very good people, many shopkeepers, homes with damage. I wouldn't want to be in their shoes."
The combination of Storm Leonardo's immediate impact and the forecast arrival of further severe weather presents ongoing challenges for emergency services and communities across Spain and Portugal as they respond to flooding and work to ensure public safety.
