According to media reports, the severe weather warnings now apply to 10 of the country’s 17 autonomous communities. In addition to heavy rain, there was also hail and strong gusts of wind, according to the weather service Aemet. Rivers overflowed their banks, streets, houses and fields were flooded in many places, cars and trees were swept away by the water masses. The regions of Andalusia, Murcia and Valencia, which are popular with holidaymakers and border the Mediterranean, were particularly affected.
The Spanish weather service had declared the highest alert level for the affected areas. In some places such as Turis and Utiel, rainfall amounts of up to 200 millimeters were recorded.
Numerous videos circulated on social media of people in the floods, some of them clinging to trees to avoid being washed away. Other recordings showed rescue missions by the fire department with helicopters. Another video appeared to show a tornado, a relatively rare phenomenon in Spain. Reuters could not immediately independently verify the authenticity of the footage.
