7,500 evacuated, transport severely disrupted as storm batters southern Spain

OVIEDO, Spain

Around 7,500 people have been forced to evacuate their homes in Spain’s southern region of Andalusia after days of torrential rainfall triggered widespread flooding, with authorities warning that the situation could worsen as another powerful storm approaches.

An atmospheric river has drenched the region in recent days, compounding the impact of several storms that have already battered southern Spain over the past weeks. While rainfall eased slightly on Friday, meteorologists warned that a new storm system is forecast to arrive on Saturday.

Rivers and reservoirs across Andalusia remain at dangerously high levels, prompting continued evacuations in multiple areas.

“The ground can no longer absorb the water. It is effectively expelling the rain,” Andalusian regional president, Juan Manuel Moreno, told Spanish broadcaster RNE Friday. “Riverbeds are at capacity and reservoirs are at their maximum safety levels.”

One of the most critical situations is unfolding along the Guadalquivir River in the city of Cordoba, where authorities have evacuated around 700 households on the outskirts of the city, particularly near the airport, which has been closed until further notice.

Across the region, transport has been severely disrupted, with all trains operated by national operator Renfe cancelled on Friday and 84 highways cut.

Another dangerous situation occurred in the picturesque mountain town of Grazalema. All 1,500 residents were evacuated Thursday after residents reported loud cracking sounds throughout the night.

“When an aquifer fills completely, the water has to escape,” Moreno explained. “As it does, it creates pressure within the aquifer walls, which can cause small landslides or ground movement. That movement could potentially damage streets or buildings.”

Moreno said residents are unlikely to return home for at least six days.

Elsewhere, rivers such as the Guadalete have already burst their banks, flooding nearby towns including Arcos de la Frontera, where around 800 people were evacuated.

One woman remains missing, though Moreno described the limited loss of life so far as remarkable given the conditions.

“Looking at the scale of this disaster, we could have expected a dozen deaths,” he told RNE.