Spain has been lashed by torrential downpours, with a red alert warning issued as devastating flash floods tear through the country.
Incredible visuals showcase streets turning into fierce rivers, with vehicles being carried off by muddy deluges, and lightning strikes adding to the turmoil as extreme weather conditions wreaked havoc on towns and cities.
In Zaragoza, dramatic footage recorded Sunday night depicted relentless rain pounding the streets, while trees barely stood against the storm that tore through these areas.
Drivers were filmed trapped inside their vehicles as surging waters surrounded them, forced to wait desperately for rescuers to arrive.
Authorities have warned that the deluge is far from over, with more flash floods and extreme weather forecast until at least Tuesday.
Spain’s meteorological service, AEMET, confirmed that a red alert—the highest level possible—has been issued for the provinces of Tarragona, Castellon, and Valencia, indicating ‘extreme danger’.
Amber warnings are in force for inland Spain, while Alicante has been placed under a yellow alert.
Locals in Valencia received urgent phone alerts instructing them to avoid travel, steer clear of road closures, and move to higher ground for safety.
Spain has been lashed by torrential downpours, with a red alert warning issued as devastating flash floods tear through the country
Drivers were filmed trapped inside their vehicles as surging waters surrounded them, forced to wait desperately for rescuers to arrive
Heart-stopping clips captured rain hammering the streets Sunday night while trees were left barely standing as the storm ripped through communities
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez urged residents to exercise ‘great caution’ in the face of the extreme weather.
Writing on X, he said: ‘Let us follow the instructions of the civil protection agency and the emergency services at all times’.
The national road authorities have also urged motorists to avoid the severely affected regions of Valencia and Castellon, where flooding has led to extensive destruction.
In Valencia, educational institutions and sports events have been halted, parks have been closed, and gardens have been cordoned off as part of the officials’ ‘preventative’ safety strategies.
Emergency crews – including firefighters, forest brigades, and road and health departments – have been placed on full alert.
Experts say Monday and Tuesday will be the worst days of flooding, with Valencia expected to be hardest hit.
Up to 300mm of rain could fall, piling further misery on already devastated communities.
Earlier this month, a tragic incident occurred when a child was drowned by severe floodwaters in a popular Spanish vacation area, causing travel mayhem with flights canceled and trains stopped when trees collapsed onto railway tracks.
What was deemed as ‘biblical weather’ also hammered Spain at the beginning of the month with violent storms unleashing 100kph winds across the country.
Dramatic videos from then showed palm trees snapping in half in Alicante and streets in Majorca turning into rivers as the Med braced for ‘hazardous’ thunderstorms.
Authorities have warned that the deluge is far from over, with more flash floods and extreme weather forecast until at least Tuesday
The national roads authority has begged drivers to stay away from the most badly-hit regions of Valencia and Castellon, where floodwaters have caused widespread destruction
In response to the threat, the Catalan government sent Es-Alert messages to residents in Baix Ebre and Montsià, urging them to avoid unnecessary travel and steer clear of flood-prone areas.
Majorca was majorly hit by the freak weather, which brought gale-force winds, torrential rain and huge waves to its holiday hotspots.
Images from the island showed cars underwater after roads were drowned in floodwater, toppled trees, destroyed terraces and damaged boats.
It comes after in July a series of freak storms struck popular Spanish tourist hotspots turning roads into powerful rivers while hail lashed down and turned streets white.
Dramatic footage captured dirty water gushing down streets and into houses in Murcia, southeastern Spain, while enormous grey clouds towered over the province.
The Murcia region was badly hit and in the city of Caravaca de la Cruz, a major pilgrimage site, golf-sized hail balls smashed down on cars.
Up to 20 residents from the city were evacuated and spent the night in a municipal sports pavilion, according to local reports.
