Spain & Portugal Floods: Storms Marta & Leonardo Cause Chaos & Damage

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has urged caution from residents in flood-affected areas as another storm system is forecast to bring further heavy rainfall to parts of the Iberian Peninsula this weekend. The renewed warning comes as both Spain and Portugal grapple with the aftermath of Storm Leonardo, which has already claimed at least one life and triggered widespread disruption.

Portugal is still recovering from the impacts of last week’s severe weather, which resulted in five fatalities, hundreds of injuries and tens of thousands of power outages. This week, Storm Leonardo caused one death in Portugal, in the Alentejo region, after a vehicle was swept away by floodwaters on Wednesday. In Spain, authorities continue to search for a woman missing in the Malaga province, believed to have been carried away by the Turvilla River while attempting to rescue her dog. The dog has been recovered, but the woman remains unaccounted for.

The successive storms battering the Iberian Peninsula are raising concerns about the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events linked to climate change. Scientists emphasize that rising global temperatures are contributing to longer, more intense, and more frequent floods and heatwaves across Europe.

Spain’s national weather agency, Aemet, lifted its highest alert level for rain in Andalusia on Thursday, but cautioned that Storm Marta is expected to arrive on Saturday. Aemet spokesman Rubén del Campo warned that the additional rainfall, on top of already saturated ground, “is highly likely to trigger further floods, spates and landslides” in mountainous areas of Andalusia.

Prime Minister Sánchez visited a coordination post in the province of Cadiz after surveying flooded agricultural lands by helicopter. He described the relentless rainfall as “overwhelming” and called for calm and caution as the region prepares for the arrival of Storm Marta. Approximately 8,000 people have been evacuated in the southern Spanish region of Andalusia due to the ongoing flooding.

In Portugal, around 900 people have been evacuated, and the IPMA weather agency anticipates that Storm Marta will contribute to further increases in river levels, particularly in the south and the Lisbon region. Civil Protection commander Mario Silvestre acknowledged a “slight improvement” in precipitation but warned of fresh rainfall and winds potentially reaching 100 kilometers per hour.

Portuguese authorities have responded to over 7,500 incidents and mobilized more than 26,500 rescuers since Thursday. Prime Minister Luis Montenegro visited affected areas on Friday and estimated provisional damage exceeding four billion euros ($4.7 billion). His government has already approved a reconstruction plan of €2.5 billion following last week’s storm.

The scale of the disruption has prompted discussion about infrastructure resilience and disaster preparedness. Some areas of Andalusia experienced rainfall equivalent to several months’ worth in just 24 hours, highlighting the vulnerability of existing systems. The town of San Martin del Tesorrillo in Cadiz remains cut off due to the flooding, and dozens of roads and railway lines are paralyzed.

Despite the ongoing crisis, Portuguese authorities have stated that the presidential run-off election scheduled for Sunday is not expected to be delayed, despite a postponement request from a far-right candidate. The focus remains on ensuring the safety of citizens and mitigating the impact of the approaching Storm Marta.

The situation underscores the growing challenges faced by the Iberian Peninsula as it adapts to a changing climate. The repeated extreme weather events are placing significant strain on resources and infrastructure, and prompting calls for increased investment in preventative measures and long-term resilience strategies.