Rivers and reservoirs across Spain and Portugal were on the verge of overflowing on Wednesday as a new weather front pounded the Iberian peninsula, compounding damage from last week's Storm Kristin.
In southern Spain, authorities in Andalusia said 14 rivers and 10 dams were at "extreme" risk of overflowing. Antonio Sanz, head of the regional interior department, said saturated ground from earlier storms this month had worsened the threat.
Across the border in Portugal, the government raised its alert level to the maximum until at least Friday as several rivers approached critical levels. In Alcacer do Sal, about 90 kilometres south of Lisbon, the Sado river burst its banks, flooding parts of the town.
"I've never seen anything like this, never. It's surreal. I have no words," said longtime resident Maria Cadacha.
Mayor Clarisse Campos said "the entire lower part of the city is flooded" and added that authorities were monitoring residents "to determine whether it is necessary to evacuate them and move them to a safe place."
In Spain, Andalusian officials called the situation in Grazalema dire after the sewage system became overwhelmed, sending water gushing from homes.
Footage showed floods pouring out of electrical sockets as emergency crews drilled holes in walls to release trapped water. In Ubrique, a wall collapse injured one person.
At least 3,500 residents were evacuated in Andalusia. Classes were cancelled, travel was discouraged, and 1,200 emergency personnel plus 400 military service members were deployed.
Aircraft and helicopters were sent to monitor flood zones.
"It's been raining like this for hours. The river has already overflowed, and people are very worried inside their homes. We are experiencing many power cuts," José Luis Castillo in Jimera de Libar told Reuters.
Spain's weather agency AEMET forecast continuous and intense rainfall in parts of Andalusia, central Spain and Galicia through to Saturday (7 January), warning of possible landslides and damage to infrastructure.
Portugal's National Civil Protection service said water levels were likely to rise further in the coming days. The armed forces deployed 1,600 personnel, including marine teams equipped with 35 inflatable boats, to rescue people from flood affected areas.
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Nineteen years ago, at Barcelona's Camp Nou, Lionel Messi posed for a charity photo shoot with a five-month-old baby he had never met. On Sunday, that baby, Lamine Yamal, will face Messi in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final as Spain take on Argentina. A full-circle football story.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 15th of July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Spain booked their place in the World Cup final with a composed 2-0 victory over France on Tuesday, ending the hopes of the tournament favourites and moving within one match of a second World Cup title.
The United Kingdom, the European Union, Spain and Gibraltar have formally signed a treaty establishing new arrangements for movement and border procedures between Gibraltar and Spain.
The half-time interval during the 2026 FIFA World Cup final is expected to be extended to around 30 minutes to accommodate the tournament’s first-ever major half-time concert.
The U.S. military announced that it has completed a new wave of strikes against Iranian military targets under U.S. President Donald Trump's orders. The operation targeted command centres, air defence systems, missile and drone facilities, and coastal surveillance sites across multiple locations.
Nineteen years ago, at Barcelona's Camp Nou, Lionel Messi posed for a charity photo shoot with a five-month-old baby he had never met. On Sunday, that baby, Lamine Yamal, will face Messi in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final as Spain take on Argentina. A full-circle football story.
The U.S. military said it completed a sixth consecutive night of strikes on Iran late on Thursday, targeting logistics infrastructure and maritime capabilities. Iran responded by launching strikes at U.S. bases in neighbouring countries.
SpaceX's Starship rocket aborted its 13th flight test just seconds before liftoff in Texas on Thursday after some of its 33 engines failed to start. CEO Elon Musk said the company is likely to make another launch attempt early next week.
Hungary is channelling around two million cubic metres of water into the park's largest marshland, Fekete-rét (Black Meadow), through the Nyugati irrigation canal to replenish wetlands affected by prolonged dry conditions.
Toronto experienced the worst air quality of any major city in the world on Wednesday as thick smoke from wildfires burning across north-western Ontario blanketed the city.
More than 260,000 people were evacuated to safety in China's northeastern Liaoning province after Typhoon Bavi brought severe flooding and widespread disruptions.
Two endangered loggerhead sea turtles have been released into the Mediterranean from Türkiye's Antalya province as part of a conservation project to track their migration and strengthen protection efforts.
Typhoon Bavi, the strongest storm to hit the eastern coast of mainland China this year, brought heavy rain, strong winds, flooding and landslides after making landfall in Zhejiang province on Sunday. More than 2.8 million people were evacuated to safety ahead of the storm.
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