A devastating storm named Leonardo has plunged Spain and Portugal into chaos, unleashing ferocious winds, torrential rainfall, and unprecedented flooding that has submerged towns, forced motorways to close, and even triggered a freak earthquake in a popular tourist area. The severe weather has resulted in at least one fatality, with a man in his 60s swept away by powerful currents in southeastern Portugal, as confirmed by the national civil protection authority.
Widespread Destruction and Emergency Responses
In Spain, the storm has caused significant havoc, particularly in the region of Andalusia, where thousands of residents have been evacuated from their homes. Reports indicate that one person was injured due to a building collapse amid the relentless downpours. The situation has prompted the deployment of hundreds of soldiers to assist rescue services, while all schools in Andalusia, except in Almeria, have been closed as the region faces a red alert for extraordinary rainfall.
Transport Chaos and Infrastructure Damage
The flooding has led to major disruptions across transport networks. In Madrid, the M14 motorway near Madrid-Barajas Airport has been forced to shut, with fire crews working tirelessly to drain the roads. Additionally, a burst pipe flooded the airport's metro station, exacerbating traffic pile-ups on the M13 and pushing more water onto already submerged streets. Rail services have been severely affected, with almost all suburban, regional, and long-distance trains cancelled across Andalusia, and no bus replacements possible due to road closures.
Dramatic footage from areas like Cadiz shows streets transformed into raging rivers, with homes and vehicles engulfed by flash floods. In Setubal, a tourist hotspot south of Lisbon, dirty mud-coloured water submerged parts of the town, forcing residents to wade through knee-high water and board emergency dinghies. The iconic 12th-century Giralda bell tower in Seville has also sustained damage, with debris falling following strong gusts of wind.
Freak Earthquakes and Landslides
In a rare occurrence, Storm Leonardo triggered three earthquakes in Gaucin, a mountainous town in the province of Malaga, attributed to the intense rainfall and landslides. The mayor of Ronda in Malaga province highlighted that the ground can no longer absorb the constant downpours, leading to numerous landslides in rural areas. Further north, in Ubrique, Cadiz, one person was injured when a large rock fell onto their house.
Human and Animal Distress
The storm has not spared lives or livelihoods. A woman in her 30s is missing near the Costa del Sol after jumping into a river to rescue her dog and being swept away by a rapid current. Heartbreaking scenes emerged from San Martin del Tesorillo in Cadiz, where two dogs were left chained and seemingly abandoned as water submerged the area. Residents and businesses, including cafes, have been forced to shut amid the intense rainfall, with significant economic and emotional tolls.
In Portugal, the situation remains dire, with the country still recovering from last week's Storm Kristin, which killed five people. Since Sunday, Portuguese emergency services have dealt with over 3,300 incidents, mostly due to flooding, falling trees, and landslides. In Alcacer do Sal, south of Lisbon, the Sado river burst its banks, submerging the town's main avenue. Local shopkeeper Jessica Ramalho described the scene as unimaginable, while cafe owner Andre Perdigao noted that the situation is currently out of control despite town hall efforts.
Climate Context and Future Forecasts
Storm Leonardo is the latest in a series of extreme weather events battering the Iberian Peninsula this year, with scientists linking such occurrences to human-driven climate change. Andalusia's top emergency official, Antonio Sanz, expressed deep concern, particularly in Grazalema, which received over 40 centimetres of rain on Wednesday—equivalent to Madrid's annual rainfall. The storm is expected to weaken by Friday, but forecasts predict a new Atlantic storm arriving on Saturday, prolonging the crisis.
Spain remains traumatised by the deadliest floods in decades in October 2024, which claimed over 230 lives, mostly in Valencia. As emergency crews continue to battle the elements, the resilience of communities across Spain and Portugal is being tested to its limits, with recovery efforts likely to extend well beyond the immediate aftermath of this devastating storm.
