Spain and Portugal hit with torrential rain while flash floods in Morocco force more than 100,000 people to evacuate
The Iberian peninsula has been placed under severe weather alerts as Storm Leonardo continues to batter parts of Spain and Portugal with torrential rain and strong winds.
Since Tuesday, the slow-moving system has brought widespread disruption, flooding and evacuations. In Grazalema, in southern Spain, more than 700mm of rain has fallen since Wednesday, roughly equivalent to the country’s average annual rainfall.
Across Andalucía, about 3,500 people have been evacuated, with roads and schools closed, and transport networks disrupted. Spain’s state meteorological agency, Aemet, issued its highest red alert for heavy rainfall in Cádiz and parts of Málaga, where around 150mm was recorded in only 12 hours on Thursday.
In Málaga province, a girl has been reported missing after being swept away by the Turvilla river, with emergency services continuing search efforts.
