One woman has died and around 90 people have been rescued after severe flooding hit Madrigueras in Albacete, Spain. Emergency services remain on alert as heavy rain, thunderstorms and possible hail are forecast across much of the country through Sunday.
The incident is part of a wider episode of unsettled weather affecting several regions, including Catalonia, Valencia, Murcia, the Balearic Islands and parts of central and northern Spain. Authorities are warning that further intense rainfall could cause additional flash flooding.
Flooding in Spain kills 102-year-old woman
The 102-year-old woman was found in a home in Madrigueras after floodwater reached approximately one metre. The municipality recorded 142 litres of rain per square metre, according to the regional government of Castilla-La Mancha.
About 90 rescues were carried out during Friday afternoon and the early hours of Saturday. Many involved residents trapped in homes affected by rapidly rising water. Authorities said they received numerous emergency calls from people who were frightened and unsure how to respond.
Castilla-La Mancha activated its Adverse Meteorological Risk Plan, known as METEOCAM, at operational level one. The Civil Guard was also involved in clean-up operations in the town.
Political leaders offer support
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed his condolences to the woman’s relatives and solidarity with residents affected by the flooding. Castilla-La Mancha President Emiliano García-Page visited Madrigueras as emergency workers continued recovery operations.
Severe weather warnings remain in place
The heaviest rainfall has affected parts of Tarragona and Castellón, particularly around the Lower Ebro area. Orange warnings were issued for several areas, including Tarragona, the Valencia region, the Balearic Islands, Murcia, Almería, Granada and Albacete, because of storms that could bring intense rain and hail.
Authorities have also warned of difficult conditions in other parts of the peninsula. Saturday’s forecast includes:
- Further heavy rain along the Tarragona coast, where a red warning has been issued for torrential rainfall.
- Storms affecting Extremadura, Salamanca, the Central System and Aragon.
- Intense showers and possible hail in the Iberian System, southeastern mountain ranges, the Pyrenees, the northwest, the Balearic Islands and the Mediterranean coast.
- More limited rainfall in western Galicia and the Canary Islands.
Temperatures are expected to rise in Galicia, Aragon, Navarre, the Basque Country and the Canary Islands. They are forecast to fall in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and inland parts of Spain, while remaining broadly stable elsewhere.
Possible DANA could bring further torrential rain
Forecasters expect unsettled conditions to continue on Sunday, with widespread rain and thunderstorms. A DANA may develop over the western half of mainland Spain. The Spanish term refers to an isolated high-altitude low-pressure system that can produce prolonged and locally torrential rainfall.
The possibility of a DANA does not necessarily mean rainfall will be heavier than the recent downpours in Tarragona or Castellón. However, it increases the risk that similar conditions could recur or spread to other areas.
Heavy showers and storms may affect the Cantabrian coast, the Balearic Islands and Catalonia during the early hours of Sunday. Later, locally intense rainfall could become widespread across central and northern Spain, while the southern third is expected to face a lower risk. The Canary Islands should remain largely unaffected.
What residents and travellers should know
Flash floods can develop quickly, particularly in low-lying areas, river channels, underpasses and roads near streams. Residents in warning areas should follow instructions from emergency authorities and avoid driving through flooded roads, even when the water appears shallow.
People travelling through affected regions may face road closures, delays and rapidly changing conditions. Local authorities and Spain’s national weather service remain the most reliable sources for updated warnings, evacuation instructions and transport information.
What happens next?
Emergency services will continue monitoring affected communities, supporting clean-up operations and responding to calls for assistance. Weather warnings may change as rainfall bands and thunderstorms move across the peninsula.
The immediate priority is protecting residents in flood-prone areas and ensuring that emergency teams can reach homes and roads affected by water. Further assessments will determine the extent of damage once conditions improve.
The flooding in Spain highlights the danger posed by intense Mediterranean storms and slow-moving weather systems. With heavy rain forecast to continue, residents and visitors should remain alert to official warnings until the unstable weather has passed.
