Record Rainfall Causes Flooding in Central Spain, Leaving Three Dead and Three Missing
MADRID, Sept 4 (Reuters) – Heavy rainfall in central Spain has led to severe flooding, resulting in at least three deaths and three people reported missing, according to authorities on Monday.
The torrential rain caused chaos in the Toledo area, located approximately 50 km (31 miles) southwest of Madrid. Emergency services dispatched helicopters to rescue individuals who had taken refuge on the roofs of their homes.
The deluge on Sunday and Monday turned streets into muddy rivers, washing away cars and trash bins in Madrid, Castile-La Mancha, Catalonia, and Valencia. Hail was also recorded in various regions.
Toledo experienced a record-breaking 90 liters per square meter of rainfall on Sunday, resulting in three deaths. One victim, a young man, was trapped in a flooded elevator, while another person lost their life inside a vehicle that was swept away by the floodwaters, confirmed the police.
A 50-year-old man, who had been reported missing, was found dead later in the day. His body was discovered floating in a river near his home in the town of Camarena.
Residents expressed their fear and shock as the rain continued to pour. “It just kept raining, and we were a little scared, but we were indoors, so we were safe,” said Isabella Stewart, a U.S. missionary living in Toledo, while she was taking a bus. Another local, Ruben Gonzalez, described the flood as “very strong,” adding, “Everything is flooded. This is crazy.”
Efforts to locate missing individuals are ongoing. In the Madrid region alone, emergency services handled nearly 1,200 incidents overnight. Firefighters and police are currently searching for a man in Aldea del Fresno, a rural area southwest of Madrid, where their car was swept into the Alberche River due to an avalanche caused by the sudden surge in water. Fortunately, the man’s son was rescued after climbing up a tree.
Similar incidents occurred in other areas as well. A woman went missing near Toledo, while an 84-year-old man in Villamanta was carried away by the torrent of water and mud.
The heavy rainfall also wreaked havoc on infrastructure. Numerous roads were closed, and several bridges collapsed due to overflowing rivers. The defense ministry deployed army engineers to construct a portable truss bridge, known as a Bailey bridge, in Aldea del Fresno after the original bridge was destroyed.
Transportation services were also greatly impacted. Some subway lines in central Madrid were temporarily shut down, although most services were restored in the morning. High-speed train connections between Madrid and the southern region of Andalusia resumed at reduced speeds.
As the cut-off low phenomenon responsible for the intense rainfall begins to move away from the country, authorities are monitoring the situation closely. Emergency services continue to work tirelessly to ensure the safety and well-being of affected individuals across the affected regions in Spain.
Reporting by Inti Landauro, Emma Pinedo, and David Latona; Editing by Andrei Khalip, Angus MacSwan, and Christina Fincher
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