Storm Laurence has left a trail of destruction across Spain, hitting Andalucía and Murcia the hardest. Heavy rainfall and flooding have led to the death of a woman in Constantina, Sevilla. She and her husband were in their car when it was swept away by the powerful current of the Guadalbácar stream. Emergency teams found the vehicle overturned and carried several meters downstream. The woman’s body was discovered 400 meters from the car, while her husband remains missing. Search operations were halted at nightfall and will resume as soon as possible.

In Córdoba, another man, aged 71, has been reported missing. He was last seen on Monday when he left home on his bicycle. Authorities suspect his disappearance is linked to the severe weather conditions.

Flooding Causes Widespread Damage

The storm has caused rivers to overflow, submerging homes, roads, and businesses. The Guadalquivir River basin has been hit particularly hard, with 19 rivers on red alert. Authorities were forced to release water from reservoirs. Roads have been severely impacted, with 46 closures across Spain. The AP-4 motorway between Dos Hermanas (Sevilla) and Jerez Norte (Cádiz) remains impassable due to floodwaters.

🛑Cortes de carreteras 🛑 en zonas afectadas por el temporal.

🎥 AP-4 en ambos sentidos entre kilómetros 13 y 78 en Dos Hermanas #Sevilla y Jerez Norte #Cádiz debido al desbordamiento de un arroyo que desemboca en el #Guadalquivir pic.twitter.com/kPSW87mdhP

— Guardia Civil (@guardiacivil) March 18, 2025

In Málaga, rivers such as the Guadalhorce and Campanillas overflowed, forcing emergency evacuations. Hundreds of residents in Campanillas, Cártama, and Casares had to leave their homes as floodwaters rushed through streets and buildings. Some have since been allowed to return. In Cádiz, emergency services rescued 14 people, including three children, from floodwaters in San Martín del Tesorillo. Other rescues took place in Huelva and Córdoba, while train services across the region faced disruptions.

Emergency Response and Evacuations

Murcia was also severely impacted, with a red alert declared due to extreme flooding. The area of Águilas has been one of the worst affected areas. Emergency services responded to 65 incidents in a single morning, including helicopter rescues of nine people trapped in their vehicles. Schools were closed as a precaution in many towns across the Region of Murcia.

¡Puf, se repite la escena! Esta mañana (18/03/2025), situación muy complicada en #Águilas (#Murcia), con la afectación de una #tormenta con picos de intensidad torrencial. La fuerza del agua está arrastrando vehículos en una de las ramblas de esta localidad. Vídeo: @InfoAguilas. pic.twitter.com/YQGZxlHMPb

— MeteOrihuela (@MeteOrihuela) March 18, 2025

In Sevilla, flood defenses were activated for the first time, with officials closing barriers to protect the Triana district from the rising Guadalquivir River. Around 30 people living in makeshift shelters near the river were evacuated. Businesses and government buildings in the Isla de la Cartuja area, including the regional education department headquarters, were also cleared as a safety measure.

More Severe Weather on the Way

While the storm is expected to subside temporarily, another major weather system, Storm Martinho, is set to arrive on Thursday, March 20. This marks the thirteenth major storm of the season and the fourth in just twelve days. Heavy rainfall and strong winds are expected to further strain already overflowing rivers and reservoirs, increasing the risk of further flooding.

Residents are advised to stay alert, follow local weather updates, and take necessary precautions as emergency services continue their efforts to manage the crisis.

Ya se ve en las imágenes de satélite la nueva borrasca Martinho, aproximándose por el Atlántico hacia la península. Nos afectará a partir del jueves. Es la cuarta borrasca en 12 días, tras Jana, Konrad y Laurence pic.twitter.com/o32okgPPKa

— AEMET_Andalucía (@AEMET_Andalucia) March 18, 2025

Main image: X/@guardiacivil