Storm Leonardo Unleashes Havoc Across Spain and Portugal
A relentless series of storms, dubbed a "storm train," has pummelled the Iberian Peninsula this week, with Storm Leonardo at the forefront causing widespread devastation. Emergency services are in a race against time as torrential rains and fierce winds have triggered mass evacuations, severe flooding, and tragic loss of life across multiple regions.
Evacuations and Fatalities Mount
Authorities report that approximately 11,000 residents have been forced to flee their homes in Spain and Portugal due to the escalating crisis. In Portugal, a man believed to be in his seventies perished in the Alentejo region after his vehicle was overwhelmed by raging floodwaters on Wednesday. Meanwhile, in Spain, police discovered a body near Malaga on Friday, close to where a woman was swept away by a river while attempting to rescue her dog.
Juan Manuel Moreno, a regional leader in Spain, emphasised the extreme danger, noting that even relatively low rainfall totals are proving catastrophic. "In other circumstances that would be little water but right now it is a lot as the soil is unable to drain and the rivers and reservoirs are full," he warned, highlighting the saturated conditions exacerbating the floods.
Chaos and Government Response
In the Portuguese town of Alcacer do Sal, residents described scenes of chaos as floodwaters inundated streets and homes. One devastated local stated, "I’m left with nothing. Nothing." In response, Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro has declared a state of calamity across 69 municipalities, extending it until mid-February. He cautioned that "unprecedented" rainfall is threatening numerous areas, with civil protection officials placing at least six rivers, including the Tagus basin, on red alert due to rapidly rising water levels.
Ongoing Threats and Meteorological Warnings
Meteorologists warn that the "storm train" phenomenon—a succession of storms hitting consecutively—could bring further perilous weather in the coming days. With Storm Marta approaching, officials fear additional evacuations may be necessary if rivers continue to swell and heavy precipitation persists. Volunteers have established shelters for evacuees, and donations are being coordinated for those affected, but the situation remains precarious as communities brace for more potential destruction.
