Storm Marta swept across the Iberian Peninsula on Saturday, February 7, 2026, bringing heavy rains and strong winds, especially in Andalusia and Portugal. A volunteer firefighter died during an operation in a Portuguese river, following the depression Leonardo that had already claimed three lives. A lull is expected on Sunday.
The Iberian Peninsula endured the onslaught of Storm Marta on February 7, 2026, characterized by intense rainfall and powerful gusts, focused in Andalusia in southern Spain and Portugal. This follows the depression Leonardo, which caused two deaths in Spain and one in Portugal earlier in the week. Portuguese authorities describe these climate events as «exceptionally violent» since January, according to Prime Minister Luis Montenegro.
In Spain, the national meteorological agency Aemet reported heavy downpours not only in Andalusia but also in the northwest and Madrid. Andalusian president Juan Manuel Moreno stated: «We have never seen such a series of storms». Over 11,000 people have been evacuated in recent days, with dozens of roads closed and rail traffic halted. Damages include economic losses in the millions of euros, severely hitting agriculture, and over 500 million euros for road repairs. The region plans to seek aid from the Spanish state and the EU Solidarity Fund. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, «devastated» after an on-site visit, called a follow-up meeting in Madrid.
In Cordoba, the Roman bridge over the Guadalquivir was closed, and a playground was submerged. Local driver Hilario Díaz, 41, said: «We are worried». The river level has slightly receded. Evacuees from Grazalema were sheltered in a gym in Ronda, where 37-year-old Jesus Ramirez noted that normalcy might take more than one or two weeks.
In Portugal, a 46-year-old firefighter, an off-duty gendarme volunteering, was swept away by floodwaters during a patrol near a central river. The Interior Ministry offered condolences. Landslides occurred without further casualties. The storm is receding, with limited orange alerts in Spain on Sunday and a return to normal by Monday. Morocco was also impacted, evacuating 150,000 in the northwest.
