Else Beekman
In an extreme weather event that shocked residents and caused widespread damage, a hailstorm with golf-ball-sized hailstones hit El Ejido, Almería, on Monday night. The storm, which residents described as “apocalyptic,” left extensive damage to greenhouses, vehicles, homes, and public buildings.
Local agriculture is severely affected. According to first estimations, the total losses could exceed €30 million.
Widespread damage across town and farms
The storm struck with intense force just after 10.00 pm, raining down hailstones so large they shattered windows, damaged roofs, and tore through greenhouse plastic sheeting. Mercedes González, a local tomato grower, described her greenhouse as “riddled with holes”. Consequently, the crop is almost entirely ruined. Initial estimates suggest that around 4,500 hectares of greenhouses were damaged, impacting crops such as tomatoes, peppers, and courgettes.
Damaged vehicles and solar panels
In addition to agricultural devastation, the storm left the town centre with hundreds of damaged vehicles, downed tree branches, and flooding in several areas. Four local schools also reported significant structural damage, and the solar panels on the town hall were destroyed. Power outages and road closures further disrupted the area, with authorities deploying emergency crews across El Ejido to address the damage.
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Weather alerts and emergency response
The State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) had issued a special weather alert on Sunday, warning of torrential rain due to an isolated depression at high levels (DANA). The orange alert for Almería province remains in effect until Tuesday afternoon. Emergency response teams have carried out over 200 interventions, including around 20 rescues of people trapped in vehicles and ten evacuations from homes.
El Ejido’s mayor, Francisco Góngora, expressed grave concern over the economic impact on the town, especially in the agriculture sector. “This event represents a substantial economic loss for families,” Góngora stated. Furthermore, he encouraged residents to document their losses to apply for government aid. The municipality has created an online portal, elejido.es/dana, to collect damage reports for further assistance requests.
Climate challenges and calls for aid
Agricultural groups in the region, including the Small Farmers Union (UPA), have highlighted the challenging impact of climate change, noting that weather extremes have increased in frequency and intensity, further burdening the local economy. Andrés Góngora of the Agricultural and Livestock Organisations’ Coordinator (COAG) noted, “This is unsustainable for local agriculture.”
The mayor urged residents and farmers to document damages and announced ongoing discussions with the Junta de Andalucía and the central government for aid, including possible tax relief measures, to help residents recover from the storm’s severe economic impact.
Also read: Costa del Sol weather: Floods, hail, rain and over fifty emergency calls