Weather

Heavy downpours cause severe flooding across Spain

Madrid, Sep 3 (EFE).- Torrential rains across Spain have caused major flooding and traffic disruptions on Sunday.

In Huesca, two canyoners lost their lives, with the Guardia Civil saying it was possible they drowned due to the “high and strong” flow of the Gorgol canyon, although the causes were still being investigated.

The torrential downpours came as millions of people were traveling home at the end of summer holidays, leading to heavy traffic across the country.

A red alert was in effect for Toledo and Madrid in the center of the country, Spain’s meteorology agenda (Aemet) said. Andalusia, Castille and Leon, Catalonia and Valencia were under an orange alert.

In the capital, Madrid mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida urged residents to avoid leaving home unless “absolutely necessary,” given the “exceptional and anomalous” weather situation.

Atletico Madrid’s home match against Sevilla at the Metropolitano on the outskirts of the capital has been postponed.

Five people in Aragon had to be rescued after their homes were cut off due to flooding, while in Valencia, emergency workers had to free people who were trapped in the cars.

The rains also forced a high-speed train to abandon its journey in Zaragoza, and a plane from Italy that was due to land in the city had to reroute to Girona in Catalonia.

In Cuenca, the Civil Guard Saturday rescued an elderly woman from her home where the water had risen to over 1.5 meters. EFE

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