World

Heavy rain batters parts of Spain as residents urged to stay indoors

Railway lines have been closed, a football match has been cancelled and residents have been ordered to stay indoors after heavy rain in parts of Spain.

Weather warnings were issued for intense rainstorms in Madrid and nearby areas on Sunday.

Spain‘s national weather agency AEMET issued a maximum red alert, which meant extreme danger was possible in the Madrid region, Toledo province and city of Cadiz.

Rail services between Madrid and the eastern coastal area of Valencia and other lines were suspended.

A vehicle passes through a large puddle of water in Madrid
Image:
Weather warnings were issued for intense rainstorms in Madrid

Flooding along a motorway outside Toledo
Image:
Flooding along a motorway outside Toledo

Madrid’s mayor Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida urged people to stay off the streets to help emergency crews move more quickly.

Mr Almeida said he was expecting “an exceptional and truly rare situation in terms of precipitation”.

He said the city’s record rainfall of 87 litres per square metre in 1972 would “most likely be broken” with 120 litres per square metre forecast.

Residents have been sent text messages with instructions to stay at home and avoid using cars.

Aftermath of storm in Cadiz
Image:
The aftermath of a storm in Cadiz

Read more from Sky News:
Greenwood’s new manager: Loan signing is ‘delicate issue’
UK heatwave could bring hottest day of the year

Atletico Madrid’s home game against Sevilla was postponed following warnings from the weather service and the regional government.

Local media reported on Saturday that police were investigating whether two people who died while canyoning in northern Spain drowned.

The intense rain comes after Spain endured a heatwave in August.

Articles You May Like

Kentucky Derby 2024: How to watch, what you need to know
Man accused of Hainault attack broke into family home and injured sleeping father minutes before allegedly killing schoolboy, court hears
Morgan Stanley banker sees 10 to 15 more tech IPOs in 2024, and a ‘better year’ in 2025
Russia using chemical choking agents against Ukrainian troops, US claims
Apple reports sharp drop in iPhone sales