Madrid on alert, Manzanares river at risk of overflowing

Madrid is bracing for possible flooding as the Manzanares River nears dangerous levels amid heavy rainfall from Storm Martinho. Emergency services are closely monitoring the situation, with parts of the city already experiencing flooding.

Local authorities have already closed off sections of key roads, including the M-30 and M-40 highways, as floodwaters have inundated nearby parks. Emergency personnel, including police officers and rural guards, are on-site to assess the situation, as the water levels near the riverbanks continue to rise.

"We've never seen flooding like this before," said local resident José Antonio, 61, while standing by the river's edge. "It's a lot of water flowing down, but I hope we don’t face any major problems. For now, everything seems manageable."

Despite the visible concern, some residents, like David, 53, remained calm, speculating that the river’s levels may rise further due to snowmelt from nearby mountains. "We’re keeping an eye on it," he said. "The snow has melted, and the water levels could increase even more."

Storm Martinho, which is expected to impact central Spain through Thursday and Friday, follows weeks of heavy rainfall. These persistent storms have brought a welcome end to the region’s prolonged drought, though they’ve caused widespread concern following the deadly floods that struck the Valencia region four months ago. Authorities have warned residents to avoid flood-prone areas as waters near the city streets.

As of today, Spanish reservoirs are operating at 65.6% capacity, a significant recovery from the drought, with the volume of water increasing by 5% in just the past week. However, with the ongoing storms, authorities are continuing to take precautions to safeguard the city and its residents.