Pedro Sánchez Visits Flood-Hit Huétor Tájar: No Immediate Aid Promised

Spain Grapples with Devastating Floods, Prime Minister Pledges Aid

Spain is responding to widespread devastation caused by recent floods, with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visiting affected areas and promising support for recovery efforts. The floods, described as unprecedented, have impacted communities across several regions, particularly in Andalusia and Valencia.

On Monday, February 9, 2026, Prime Minister Sánchez visited Huétor-Tájar, a town in Granada, Andalusia, that has been severely impacted by the storms. The town, with a population of approximately 10,749, relies heavily on agriculture, particularly asparagus farming, with an estimated 80% of its residents dependent on the sector. According to local officials, 35% of the town’s asparagus crops are currently inundated, a critical blow as the harvest season is scheduled to begin in just two weeks.

While touring the damage, Sánchez did not announce a specific aid package, stating that concrete measures would be determined after a full assessment of the damage. He pledged “aid and promptness” once the evaluation is complete, adding that the government will “launch the mechanisms to evaluate the damages and face the reconstruction.”

Sánchez emphasized the need for a “grand agreement of the country, in the institutional, economic and social spheres” to address the challenges posed by a changing climate. He noted that the current climate reality “sometimes exceeds scientific predictions.” He was accompanied during the visit by First Vice President María Jesús Montero.

The regional government of Andalusia reported that as of Monday morning, 6,462 people had been evacuated, with the majority – 4,437 – located in the province of Cádiz. The number of incidents reported overnight from Sunday to Monday saw a significant decrease, with only 11 new cases reported to Andalusian emergency services. However, 186 roads across the region remain affected, with Cádiz bearing the brunt of the disruption, with 65 roads impacted.

The scale of the disaster has prompted a national conversation about climate change and disaster preparedness. Earlier, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the catastrophic floods proved that “climate change kills,” as he announced €10 billion in grants and loans to aid recovery and future prevention efforts.

The floods are attributed to a DANA, a cut-off low-pressure system that formed from an unusually wavy and stalled jet stream. The region of Valencia was particularly hard hit, with mudslides destroying roads and railways, and vehicles swept away by floodwaters. At least 222 people have died as a result of the storms over the past few weeks, according to reports.

The crisis has also exposed tensions between the public and authorities. In Paiporta, Valencia, a crowd reportedly hurled mud and other objects at Spain’s royals, Prime Minister Sánchez, and regional officials during a visit to the flood-damaged area on Sunday, demonstrating the frustration felt by those affected.

Prime Minister Sánchez also flew over areas of the southern province of Cadiz devastated by storm Leonard, accompanied by Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska. The government has already promised an initial aid package of 10.6 billion euros, and Sánchez has stated that Spain will allocate “all necessary resources for as long as needed.”