Storm Leonardo sweeps Spain and Portugal, thousands evacuated

MADRID/ALCACER DO SAL: A powerful storm dubbed Leonardo has forced the evacuation of thousands in southern Spain and Portugal, with authorities warning that more rain could worsen an already critical situation.

In Andalusia, over 7,000 people were evacuated as consecutive weather fronts, described as a “storm train,” lashed the region with torrential rain and strong winds. The Guadalquivir River in Cordoba province swelled dramatically, prompting overnight evacuations of nearby residential areas.

Tragedy struck Malaga province, where a woman was swept away by a river while trying to rescue her dog. Her body was later found around 1,000 metres from the scene, though forensic tests are ongoing to confirm her identity.

Spain’s state weather agency AEMET warned that another storm, named Marta, is expected to hit the Iberian Peninsula on Saturday, bringing further heavy rainfall.

Andalusia’s regional leader, Juan Manuel Moreno, said the situation was particularly concerning around Jaen and the Guadalquivir basin. “We expect 30 mm of rain. Normally this is not much, but right now the soil is saturated and the rivers and reservoirs are full,” he told reporters. Authorities in Cordoba also halted pedestrian traffic on the city’s Roman bridge as the river levels continued to rise.

Landslide risk in Grazalema

In the mountain village of Grazalema, around 1,500 residents were evacuated after water seeped into homes and cascaded down steep cobbled streets. Geologists warned that full aquifers in the area could trigger landslides, as permeable rock in the mountains dissolves under large volumes of water, potentially destabilising homes and roads.

“It’s possible these cavities will widen and eventually cause the ground to sink, which will affect houses and roads above,” said Nahum Mendez-Chazarra, a professor of geology at Valencia University.

Portugal braces for floods

In Portugal, parts of Alcacer do Sal along the River Sado remained semi-submerged for a third day. Resident Rita Morgado told HUM News, “I’m left with nothing. I only kept the clothes I had on.” More than 1,000 people required urgent assistance.

Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said his government had extended a state of calamity in 69 municipalities until mid-February, citing unprecedented rainfall and flood risks. Mario Silvestre, commander of Portugal’s civil protection service ANEPC, warned that six rivers, including the Tagus, were at risk of significant flooding, with the Tagus basin placed on red alert due to rapidly rising water levels.

Authorities in both countries have deployed rescue teams, and residents are being urged to remain vigilant as Storm Leonardo continues its sweep across the Iberian Peninsula.