A state of emergency has been declared across popular Spanish holiday destinations after torrential downpours triggered severe flooding, claiming at least one life and prompting officials to issue a rare maximum-level 'red weather alert'.
Holiday Havens Turned to Rivers
The devastating storms, which struck on Saturday, 28th December 2025, have caused chaos along Spain's southern and eastern coasts. Key tourist areas including Malaga, Marbella, and parts of the Valencia region saw roads transform into fast-flowing rivers of muddy water. Dramatic social media footage showed vehicles being swept away and ground-floor properties completely submerged.
The crisis turned fatal in the Malaga town of Alhaurín el Grande, where two men, aged 53 and 54, disappeared after their van was caught in floodwaters. It is believed they attempted to continue their journey on foot. The body of one of the men was found on Sunday afternoon, several miles from where their damaged vehicle was located in the Fahala River. A major search operation involving 100 police and volunteers continues for the second missing man.
Maximum Alert and Mass Evacuations
Spain's meteorological agency, Aemet, raised the alarm to its highest level—a red alert—for the Sol and Guadalhorce areas of Malaga, parts of Murcia, and the southern coast of Valencia. Warnings were also active for Granada province. Forecasters warned that up to 150mm of rain could fall within just 12 hours, causing the Guadalhorce River to burst its banks.
The extreme conditions prompted a major emergency response. Residents in towns like Cártama were forced to evacuate their homes as waters rose rapidly. In Santa Amalia, police used loudspeakers to urge locals to move to upper floors for safety. Emergency alerts were broadcast directly to mobile phones across the affected regions, and Malaga's main train station was reported to be completely inundated, causing widespread travel disruption.
Tourists Told to 'Stay Away'
With floodwaters reaching several metres high in some locations, officials have issued stark advice to travellers. Tourists have been urged to cancel plans to the worst-hit areas, with clear warnings that they could be in 'extraordinary danger' from the ongoing situation.
This evening, the President of Andalusia, Juanma Moreno, emphasised that the threat is not over, stating: "no one lower their guard tonight in Malaga" due to fears of further downpours. The message to both residents and the many British tourists who frequent these Costa del Sol hotspots remains one of extreme caution as the clean-up and rescue operations continue.
