Storm Leonardo, a powerful storm system sweeping across the Iberian Peninsula, has forced more than 11,000 people in Spain and Portugal to evacuate their homes as heavy rain, flooding, and rising rivers threaten communities across the region.

Source: TRT World Now/X.com

Widespread Evacuations and Severe Weather

Storm Leonardo struck the region in early February, bringing intense rainfall, strong winds, and a “storm train” of consecutive weather fronts that had battered both countries for days. In southern Spain’s Andalusia region, dramatic rises in river levels, especially the Guadalquivir, prompted authorities to evacuate entire neighbourhoods to keep residents safe from flooding.

Thousands of people have been moved from low-lying areas, with some communities in the mountainous village of Grazalema also evacuated as water seeped into buildings and saturated the earth, increasing the risk of landslides.

In Portugal, towns such as Alcácer do Sal have been inundated by overflowing rivers, leaving homes partly submerged and many residents displaced. Portuguese officials have extended a state of calamity across 69 municipalities in response to the “unprecedented” rainfall and continued flood threats.

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Fatalities and Ongoing Search Operations

Tragically, the storm has also claimed lives. Local authorities reported that a man in his 70s died in southern Portugal after his car was swept away by flooding. Another body was found near Málaga in southern Spain, believed to be that of a woman who disappeared while trying to rescue her dog from rising waters.

Emergency services continue search and rescue operations, with officials warning that conditions remain dangerous as rivers stay high and more rain is expected.

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Rivers Swell and New Storms Loom

Source: Algarve Daily/X.com

State weather agencies in both Spain and Portugal have issued ongoing alerts as the Guadalquivir, Tagus, and other river basins approach critical levels. Officials expect additional rainfall from subsequent storms, including another system named Storm Marta, which could exacerbate flooding in already saturated ground areas.

The combination of saturated soil, overflowing rivers, and forecasted rain has authorities on high alert, urging residents to take precautions and adhere to evacuation orders.

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Community Disruption and Government Response

The impact of Storm Leonardo has been far-reaching:

• Mass evacuations and the displacement of families from their homes

• Evacuation of mountain villages due to landslide risk

• Homes and infrastructure were damaged by floodwaters

• State of calamity declared in major parts of Portugal

• Emergency services mobilised to assist with rescue and support efforts

Storm Leonardo highlights the ongoing vulnerability of the region to extreme weather and adds to a broader pattern of severe storms affecting southern Europe in recent years. Authorities continue to monitor conditions as communities cope with the immediate impacts and prepare for possible further storms. This event serves as a reminder of the increasing risks posed by heavy rainfall and flooding in a changing climate.

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