Heavy floods have struck southern Spain, resulting in at least one death and two people missing, following heavy rainfall on Saturday night into Sunday, according to emergency services and local authorities.
The Spanish emergency service reported finding a body in the Málaga area of Andalusia, where search operations for the missing continue. Rescue teams are still combing the region, and authorities, along with the Civil Guard, are searching for another missing person near Granada.
Social media platforms shared videos showing streets in several villages submerged in water overnight, while rescue teams and sanitation workers began clearing mud and cleaning up the affected neighborhoods on Sunday morning.
In this context, the Spanish Prime Minister urged citizens to exercise “the utmost caution,” as weather instability persists. Meanwhile, the Spanish Meteorological Agency downgraded the alert level in Andalusia from red to orange, though heavy rains are now concentrated along the coasts of Valencia and the neighboring Murcia region, which has also experienced significant rainfall.
Spain is one of the European countries most affected by climate change, having encountered longer and more intense heatwaves in recent years, alongside increased instances of heavy rainfall linked to rising greenhouse gas emissions from human activity.
It’s worth noting that the country experienced severe floods in October 2024, which were described as the deadliest, claiming over 230 lives, mostly in the Valencia region. This triggered widespread backlash among residents due to criticisms aimed at the management of the crisis amidst disagreements between the central government and local authorities over responsibilities.
More than a year after that disaster, investigations are ongoing to determine accountability, amid significant media interest, as fears resurface with the recurrence of extreme weather events.
