Storms batter Andalucía as heavy rain claims two lives

Search continues for missing person as authorities warn of flooding and strong currents

Andalucía has been hit hard by heavy rain and storms over the weekend, with at least two fatalities and one person still missing. On Monday morning December 29, the body of a motorcyclist who went missing after trying to cross the Arroyo de la Cañada in Íllora (Granada) was found around three kilometres from where he disappeared. On Sunday night, another man’s body was recovered in Alhaurín el Grande, Málaga, after his van was swept away by river currents. One other occupant of the same van remains missing, and search operations continue.

The storms have kept weather alerts active across four Mediterranean regions: Andalucía, Murcia, Valencia, and the Balearic Islands. All current warnings are yellow, indicating a low-level risk, but authorities say heavy showers and strong storms will continue through the day. Rainfall could reach 20 litres per square metre in an hour in some areas, with totals of up to 80 litres over 12 hours. Hail is also expected in parts of Valencia.

In Andalucía, the alert covers the entire Almería coastline. Roads and river crossings are particularly dangerous, and emergency services are urging people to stay away from flooded areas and fast-flowing rivers. Similar warnings are in place along the Valencia coast, in the Balearic Islands, and in Murcia’s Campo de Cartagena and Mazarrón, where rainfall could reach 15 litres per hour.

With two confirmed deaths and one still missing, authorities continue search and rescue operations in affected areas. President of the Junta de Andalucía, Juanma Moreno, expressed his condolences to the families of the victims on social media, urging everyone to remain vigilant as the storms continue.

Images: @E112Andalucia