Storm Leonardo caused flooding and evacuations in Andalusia

Storm Leonardo brought heavy rain in Andalusia. The Aemet meteorological service has declared a red alert. Due to the weather conditions, classes in schools have been cancelled, residents are being evacuated, and there are disruptions to public transport in the autonomous community.

Up to 120 litres per square metre of rainfall fell in just one hour, primarily in the vicinity of Algeciras. In the Grazalema area, 213 litres per square metre fell in 12 hours, 178 of which fell in the last six hours alone.

Reacting to a sharp rise in river levels, the Andalusian authorities evacuated more than 3,000 people in the provinces of Cádiz, Jaén and Málaga. On the evening of 3 February, residents of 48 municipalities in Malaga received an ES-Alert civil protection alert. The Andalusian Emergency Agency recorded 136 incidents on 3 February. On 4 February, the ports of Cadiz and Gibraltar were closed, as well as 38 roads in Andalusia.

The situation is complicated in the province of Granada. The municipalities of Montillana, Campotejar, Huétor Santillán, Beas de Granada, Loja and Benalúa de las Villas. In Benalúa de las Villas, all access roads to the town have been cut off — people are trapped in their homes, and several people had to be rescued from flooded cars.

In the province of Malaga, the Guadalhorce River overflowed its banks. The Civil Guard closed several roads. Also, due to a landslide, AVE high-speed train service between Malaga and Antequera has been suspended. In Seville, Emasesa's reservoirs are 98% full, which increases the risk of flooding.