Red alert for floods in Spain, people advised to stay home

AEMET said rainfall could reach 120 liters per square meter in 12 hours in Madrid. “Due to the exceptional and unusual situation, in which rainfall records will be broken, I ask Madrid residents to stay at home today,” Madrid Mayor Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida said on Sunday.

Hurricane warning in Spain people are advised to stay at home picture 1 — Dark skies in Pamplona, Spain. Photo: El Pais

Dark clouds and strong winds were gathering over Madrid on Sunday afternoon local time, but many people were still outside as usual.

Manuel Loro, a 42-year-old Madrid resident, said: "I think the red alert is a good idea. The best thing to do is not to use your car today. The storms will be at their strongest at 6pm, so we will go home before then."

Madrid's emergency services sent text messages to residents warning them of the risk of flooding and advising them not to use public transport.

La Liga has suspended the evening match between Atletico Madrid and Sevilla at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid due to the warning.

In Alcanar, Tarragona, on Spain's east coast, emergency services have also advised people to stay at home due to flooding after rainfall of up to 215 litres per square metre in the past 24 hours.

Bui Huy (according to El Pais, AP, Reuters)

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