After “Leonardo”… “Marta” strikes Spain and Portugal and there are warnings of floods

Storms in Spain and Portugal

The Iberian Peninsula is one of the regions most affected by climate change, as it has witnessed for years increasing and prolonged heat waves, and more frequent, often devastating, heavy rains.

In Spain, A state of alert was declared "Orange color" In most parts of the south, especially in the Andalusia region, on Saturday, as well as in the northwest of the country, in anticipation of rain "Heavy" And there may be winds "Severe" According to what was announced by the National Meteorological Agency.

However, the agency expected rains less heavy than those that accompanied Storm Leonardo a few days ago, which led to the death of two people on Friday in Spain: a woman who was swept away by a river in Andalusia and a person who was killed in a traffic accident in the center of the country after a car collision due to hail. With massive floods, torrents and landslides, which led to the evacuation of more than 10,000 people from their homes.

Andalusia Regional President Juan Manuel Moreno warned on Saturday that "The rivers are about to flood"

The authorities confirmed that many roads are still closed as a precautionary measure, and the movement of trains is widely suspended, and urged residents to limit their movements as much as possible.

Difficult days

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed his "He was shocked to see the continuous heavy rain"He held a meeting on Saturday morning to monitor the bad weather conditions, after he conducted a tour over affected areas near Cadiz in the south of the country on board a helicopter on Friday.

The socialist leader expected difficult days to come due to the weather. "Very bad"In addition, neighboring Portugal, which was also hit by Storm Marta on Saturday, has been witnessing severe weather conditions for weeks, recording the second wettest January since the year 2000, according to the National Meteorological Agency.

State of Alert

The agency has placed the coast on alert due to rough seas, with the possibility of waves reaching 13 metres.

It has also placed eight provinces in the center and south of the country on alert. Alert with "Orange color" because of "Continuous and sometimes heavy rain"

A spokesman for the National Civil Protection Authority told Agence France-Presse "All river basins are under great pressure"especially the Tagus River in the Lisbon region and the Sado River in the south.

Storm Leonardo

The authorities reported the death of one person as a result of Storm Leonardo earlier in the week, and the evacuation of 1,100 people from various parts of the country.

The head of the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA), José Pimienta Machado, announced on Friday afternoon that the dams had been released. "An amount of water equivalent to the country’s annual consumption" In just three days, due to successive storms.

Portugal will hold the second round of presidential elections on Sunday in the midst of these difficult weather conditions, and after it was struck a week ago by Storm Christine, leaving 5 dead and severe material damage.