An intense rainstorm has battered southeast Spain, causing floods, evacuations, and one death in Andalucía, with red alerts in Murcia and Valencia. In Málaga, the Guadalhorce River recorded a historic flood, and two people remain missing. Authorities issue Es-Alert messages and suspend activities to mitigate risks.
The rainstorm affecting southeast Spain since December 28, 2025, has led to severe consequences in several regions. In the Region of Murcia, several waterspouts made landfall in Puerto de Mazarrón between 17:00 and 18:00, damaging boats, bar terraces, and urban furniture by sucking up awnings, chairs, and vessel parts, as shown in videos shared by local media. The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) raised the alert to orange for stormy rains with hail in the Guadalentín and Campo de Cartagena y Mar Menor areas until 21:00, with up to 30 liters per square meter in one hour and 60 in 12 hours in Lorca, Águilas, and Puerto Lumbreras. In Vega del Segura, the red alert from 09:00 to 12:00 recorded accumulations of up to 79 liters in Abanilla and 74 in Santomera, prompting 82 calls to 112 and 61 incidents, including six rescues on the RM-11 Lorca-Águilas road due to hail. Municipalities like Murcia (15 incidents), Abanilla (9), and Alhama de Murcia (8) were hardest hit, with closures on paths like Real de Vera in Lorca and suspensions of Christmas activities in Murcia and Archena.
In the Valencian Community, the Generalitat sent two Es-Alert messages: one at 15:30 to the south coast with a red alert for over 180 liters in less than 12 hours, and another at 17:40 to the entire province with orange (150-180 liters). Preventively, 38 residents of La Pobla Llarga were evacuated due to the risk of the Barxeta ravine overflowing, and five roads were cut, such as CV-505 in Alzira. Intense rains in La Safor and La Ribera caused holdups on the A-7 and accidents on the A-23 and A-3, activating Situation 1 of the Flood Plan.
In Andalucía, the main focus was Málaga, with 304 of the 339 total incidents. The Guadalhorce reached a historic 5.77 meters of flow in Cártama, flooding basements and garages in neighborhoods like Doña Ana, and forcing evacuations in Campanillas and Santa Amalia, where Civil Protection advised moving to upper floors. An Es-Alert was sent at 21:16 to the Sol and Guadalhorce areas. Two men aged 53 and 54 went missing when their van was swept away by the Fahala River in Alhaurín el Grande; one body was found, and the second is still being searched for. In Granada, a young man from Zujaira disappeared while crossing a stream in Íllora on a motorcycle. Additionally, 24 flights were diverted at Málaga airport, and five Cercanías trains stopped between Los Prados and Benalmádena. Minister Sara Aagesen offered support to the affected communities, contacting their presidents.
