Panic as tourist hotspot in Spain hit by mass evacuations - 'extraordinarily dangerous'

A holiday hotspot in Spain has been hit by mass evacuations amid flood warnings triggered by Storm Leonardo. Forecasters warn of "extraordinarily dangerous" rainfall, with Spanish weather agency AEMET warning of rainfall in excess of 200 to 250mm in 24 hours in the Ronda mountain range near Malaga on Wednesday (February 4).

People who live near rivers in Navares y Tejares, Llano de la Cruz and La Indiana have abandoned their homes. They have been offered emergency accommodation, according to the local council. Storm Leonardo is bearing down on Portugal and Spain, with some experts saying Spaniards could see their wettest winter since 2020.

AEMET said snowfall would affect mountain ranges in the region as well as parts of Castile and León and the central peninsula.

The weather agency warned very strong gusts were expected from late today (February 3) in the far southwest of the peninsula, extending to swathes of Andalusia on Wednesday, with gusts up to 62mph (100 km/h) possible in the Strait of Gibraltar.

AEMET raised a red alert in Grazalema, Cadiz province, while the rest of the Costa del Sol is on orange alert for torrential rain, high winds and dangerous seas, according to The Olive Press.

Rain is set to continue into Thursday as Atlantic fronts linked to Storm Leonardo, with higher ground likely seeing the largest amounts.

The Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA) said on Monday it expected Storm Leonardo to affect mainland Portugal from Tuesday until Saturday.

Portugal and Spain were already reeling from Storm Kristin, which unleashed winds in excess of 124mph (200km/h).

Six people were killed in central Portugal while homes, factories and infrastructure were devastated by the storm on January 28.

Industrial hub, Leiria, was among the worst affected parts of Portugal, with homes, roads, schools and rail lines hit.

Ahead of Storm Leonardo, Portugal's National Republican Guard issued detailed advice on how to prepare for an emergency.

People were advised to make survival kits including drinking water, three days worth of non-perishable food, battery-operated radios, torches, power banks and first aid supplies.

Forecasters in Portugal said a frontal system associated with Storm Leonardo would approach southern Portugal's Baixo Alentejo and Algarve regions on Tuesday before spreading across the country on Wednesday.