Lorraine Williamson
A search operation is underway in Málaga province after a woman was swept into a swollen river as Storm Leonardo continues to batter southern Spain with extreme rainfall and flooding.
Emergency teams resumed the search at first light on Thursday for the woman who disappeared in Sayalonga (Axarquía) after falling into the río Turvilla during the height of the storm. She is believed to have entered the water while trying to help a dog, which later managed to get out, according to reports from local and national media.
The Guardia Civil and rescue units have been combing the river course since Wednesday evening, with crews continuing to search several kilometres downstream. There has been no confirmed update yet on her whereabouts.
The incident has become one of the most serious emergencies linked to the current weather episode, which has already triggered evacuations, school closures and major travel disruption across parts of the country.
Red alerts and “extraordinary danger”
Spain remains under widespread weather warnings as Storm Leonardo pushes some areas into the highest level of risk. AEMET red alerts have been issued for parts of Andalucía, including Serranía de Ronda (Málaga) and Grazalema (Cádiz), where rainfall totals have been extreme, and flood risk is described as “extraordinary”.
Grazalema in particular has recorded some of the heaviest rain of the episode and is being closely watched by authorities due to rising rivers and saturated ground.
Orange warnings extend across other southern regions, while further alerts remain active elsewhere in the country as the storm system moves through the peninsula.
Evacuations, closures and emergency response
Thousands of people have been evacuated in recent days from flood-prone areas in Andalucía as rivers swelled and reservoirs approached critical levels. Emergency services and military units have been deployed to assist with rescues, road closures and precautionary evacuations.
Schools remain closed in several municipalities, including parts of Málaga province such as the Costa del Sol and inland areas still considered at risk. Closures vary by municipality and individual school, with families advised to follow direct notifications from their centres.
Authorities have repeatedly warned residents not to cross flooded roads or riverbeds and to avoid unnecessary travel in affected zones.
Travel disruption continues
Flooding and landslides have caused road closures across parts of southern Spain, while rail services have been disrupted in some areas due to water on tracks and adverse conditions. Strong winds and heavy rain have also affected air travel earlier in the storm.
Conditions are expected to gradually improve in some regions later today, but officials warn that the risk of flooding remains high while rivers are still swollen and the ground remains saturated.
Situation evolving
The search in Sayalonga continues as emergency teams monitor conditions across the south. Authorities stress that the danger has not passed and that further incidents remain possible even as rainfall begins to ease in some areas.
Storm Leonardo in Spain remains a major developing story, with updates expected throughout the day as rescue efforts continue and weather warnings are reassessed.
Sources: Europa Press, AEMET, DGT