Heavy rainfall led to a flood and landslide in rural northwestern Spain late Saturday, resulting in the deaths of two elderly women and injuries to two infants. The incident occurred in the village of Manzanedo de Valdueza, located near Pontevedra, according to regional authorities.
Emergency services from the Castile and Leon region confirmed the fatalities on Sunday. The victims were identified as two women, one approximately 60 years old and the other approximately 80 years old. Two babies were reported to have been treated for bruises following the weather event.
Following the landslide, Spain's Civil Protection service issued warnings for seven regions across central and northern Spain on Sunday. A yellow alert, used to signal potential risks from storms and heavy rain, was put into effect for these areas as further precipitation was forecast.
The recent weather shift follows a period of record-high temperatures that triggered a series of wildfires across Spain. For local communities, this transition from extreme heat and fire risk to torrential rain and landslides creates a compounding set of challenges for emergency responders and infrastructure. Individuals in the affected regions may experience disruptions to travel, damage to rural property, and the potential for further emergency evacuations if rainfall continues to saturate the soil.
The yellow alert indicates that while the weather is not currently expected to be extreme for the entire population, there is a distinct risk for specific activities or localized areas. Emergency services will remain on standby as the storms move through central and northern Spain. The specific duration of the alerts and the total economic impact on the rural regions affected by the Saturday landslide have not yet been determined. Residents are advised to monitor updates from the Civil Protection service for changes in alert levels or additional evacuation orders.