Copyright euroweeklynews
Andalusia woke up to chaos on Wednesday, October 29 as a violent storm system unleashed torrential rain, tornadoes and flash floods, leaving behind a trail of devastation across Huelva and Seville. In just a few hours, emergency services reported more than 900 incidents – from flooded roads and trapped drivers to fallen trees and damaged buildings. The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) had raised a red alert for Huelva and an orange alert for Seville early that morning, warning residents of ‘extreme risk’. By mid-morning, it was clear the alerts were justified. Huelva saw rainfall of up to 160 litres per square metre, one of the heaviest downpours in years. Tornado rips through Huelva, leaving one man in critical condition The coastal province of Huelva bore the worst of the storm’s fury. Residents in up to 12 towns received emergency alerts on their phones urging them to stay indoors as torrential rain flooded streets and rivers burst their banks. In Gibraleón, a tornado tore through the town, toppling metal structures and trees. One man, aged 53, was struck by a falling awning frame and suffered a severe head injury. Medics performed CPR at the scene before rushing him to Seville’s Virgen de la Macarena Hospital, where he remains in intensive care. A second waterspout was spotted off the coast of Isla Cristina, tearing through the area minutes later. It caused flooding, fallen walls and power cuts, but thankfully no serious injuries. In Cartaya, emergency crews had to evacuate a local school as classrooms filled with water, while drivers in Ayamonte and Villablanca were rescued from cars trapped by rising floodwaters. Seville sets new rainfall record as transport grinds to a halt Further inland, Seville was also pounded by the storm. The city logged 115 litres of rain per square metre, breaking its all-time rainfall record, according to the local council. The deluge caused more than 600 emergency callouts, mostly for flooded homes, fallen branches and blocked streets. Public transport came to a standstill. Train services between Seville and Huelva were suspended after power failures hit the overhead lines, shutting down the C-2 and C-5 routes, while the metro line was partially closed between Amate and Las Platas due to flooding in the tunnels. Even Seville’s Virgen de la Macarena Hospital wasn’t spared – videos shared on social media showed water cascading down staircases and pooling in corridors. The CSIF union condemned the state of the facilities, calling it “unacceptable” that a hospital could flood so severely during a storm. The city council also closed parks and sports facilities, and universities suspended classes at both the University of Seville and Pablo de Olavide University. The Motor Show scheduled to open at FIBES was also cancelled due to electrical supply issues caused by the heavy rain. Ferries cancelled and widespread flooding continues In Cádiz, strong winds forced the cancellation of all five ferries between Tarifa and Tangier, while emergency services dealt with flooded basements, damaged roads and fallen power lines across the province. Authorities are now urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel and follow the safety guidance of Andalusian emergency services (112), who continue to receive calls and coordinate rescue efforts across affected areas. While the worst of the storm appears to have passed, clean-up operations are expected to take days, with local officials describing the event as one of the most intense weather episodes Andalusia has seen in recent memory. Stay tuned with Euro Weekly News for more news from Spain
