Fresh Storms Batter Spain and Portugal, Causing Injuries and Major Infrastructure Damage
The Iberian Peninsula has been placed on high alert as a series of powerful storms unleashed torrential rain and damaging winds across Spain and Portugal on Thursday, resulting in multiple injuries and significant infrastructure damage. At least five people have been injured in the severe weather, with one individual in serious condition after being struck by a falling tree in Catalonia, northeastern Spain.
Widespread Disruption and Red Alerts Issued
Storm Nils, the eighth major weather event to hit the region this year, triggered red alerts—the highest possible warning level—across the northern Spanish regions of Galicia, Cantabria, and the Basque Country. The national weather agency, AEMET, cautioned residents about potentially dangerous waves reaching heights of up to nine metres (30 feet). In Catalonia, authorities responded by suspending classes and sporting events, while also restricting non-essential healthcare services due to the hazardous conditions.
Wind gusts exceeding 105 km per hour (65 mph) felled trees and disrupted both road and rail traffic throughout Catalonia. Nuria Parlon, head of the region's interior department, confirmed the injuries to radio station RAC1, highlighting the severity of the situation. Catalan civil protection services issued mobile emergency alerts, urging the population to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel to ensure safety.
Transport Chaos and Evacuations
The storms have caused significant transport disruptions, with at least 40 flights cancelled at Barcelona's El Prat airport, according to sources at airport operator Aena. Although the airport remained operational, restrictions were in place that could lead to further delays and cancellations. In Portugal, an atmospheric river—a wide corridor of concentrated water vapour carrying massive moisture from the tropics—brought new downpours, particularly affecting the northern areas where authorities evacuated approximately 3,000 residents as a precaution.
Infrastructure damage was severe in Portugal, where a section of the A1 motorway, a key route connecting the north and south of the country, collapsed near the historic city of Coimbra on Wednesday night following a levee breach. Infrastructure Minister Miguel Pinto Luz stated that restoring the affected stretch would take weeks, as repairs must wait for floodwaters to recede. However, the situation in Coimbra was reported as stable overnight, with no additional evacuations needed, according to state news agency Lusa.
Ongoing Weather Threats
The Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA) noted that Storm Oriana, a separate Atlantic depression approaching the north of the peninsula, would not directly affect mainland Portugal but would still bring heavy rainfall and strong winds across most of the country on Thursday and Friday. This continuous barrage of storms underscores the volatile weather patterns impacting the region, with authorities remaining vigilant to protect public safety and mitigate further damage.
