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Rescue teams discovered a woman dead as crews battled flash floods that have swept through a major holiday area in eastern Spain. Torrential rain and severe thunderstorms forced dozens of evacuations and left streets and homes submerged.
Search and rescue in Madrigueras
Emergency services mounted widespread operations after sudden flooding hit Madrigueras, a town described as lying between Valencia and Alicante. Crews reported carrying out about 90 rescues, reaching people trapped in their homes and on upper floors.
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During the searches a 102-year-old woman was found dead inside a house that had been submerged under more than three feet of water. Authorities said several people were still reported missing as teams continued to comb flooded properties.
Intensity of the downpour
The area recorded extraordinarily heavy rainfall, with roughly 140 litres per square metre falling in a three-hour span on Friday evening. The storms swept vehicles off roads and inundated residential areas.
Images of devastation
Social media posts circulating from the scene show entire buildings surrounded by water and cars piled together in town centres. Other clips capture residents stranded on balconies or clinging to vehicles to avoid being carried away.
Although damage was reportedly less severe along the Costa Blanca, that coastal zone also experienced heavy rain and disruption as the weather system moved through.
Wider disruption across eastern Spain
Weather services issued orange and yellow alerts for parts of the region. Other areas of Catalonia remained under orange warnings, and officials also flagged the city of Valencia as affected.
Only days earlier flash floods hit Barcelona, causing major disruption. More than 100 flights were cancelled at Barcelona-El Prat Airport and sections of the city’s transport network were forced to close after streets and the metro system flooded.
Context and consequences
Spain has faced an unusually volatile season, from an intense heatwave in summer to this succession of violent storms. The sudden swings in weather have severe implications for holidaymakers and local communities reliant on tourism.
Rescue and recovery efforts are ongoing as teams assess damage and search for anyone still unaccounted for. Emergency alerts remain in place for affected areas while authorities monitor conditions.
