The Iberian Peninsula is grappling with the aftermath of Storm Leonardo, which has unleashed heavy rains and ferocious winds across Portugal and Spain. The storm has tragically claimed the lives of several individuals, including an elderly man who was swept away in his vehicle along a flooded roadway near a dam in Portugal’s Alentejo region. Meanwhile, in Spain’s Malaga province, a woman is missing after being carried away by the Turvilla river’s strong currents while attempting to rescue her dog.
Emergency services have been deployed en masse, with over 3,500 police officers assisting evacuations, according to Spain’s Deputy Prime Minister Maria Jesus Montero. Search efforts for the missing woman continue rigorously, utilizing helicopters, drones, and more than 30 search and rescue personnel. Across the region, the weather has disrupted travel, with 148 roads suffering partial closures due to storm damage, especially affecting Cadiz province.
As residents brace for more turbulent weather with Storm Marta on the horizon, the financial toll continues to escalate. Portugal’s Economy Minister Manuel Castro Almeida noted that reconstruction costs from the previous Storm Kristin may exceed 4 billion euros. In Seville, the Guadalquivir river floodgates have been shut to protect the historic Triana neighborhood from unprecedented flooding risks. Authorities remain vigilant, managing risks at 14 rivers and 10 dams classified as “extreme” threat levels.
(With inputs from agencies.)