Storm Leonardo Ravages Iberia: One Dead, Child Missing as Floodwaters Rise
MADRID, Feb 5 (Reuters) – Southern Europe’s brutal winter storm season turned deadly again on Thursday as Storm Leonardo pummeled the Iberian Peninsula. In Portugal, a 70-year-old man died when his car was engulfed by floodwaters, while in southern Spain, a girl remains missing after being swept away by a raging river while attempting to save her dog.
The tempest is the latest in what meteorologists have dubbed a "storm train"—a relentless procession of half a dozen severe weather systems that have swept across the region since the new year. The consecutive storms have left a trail of destruction: homes stripped of roofs, towns submerged, and critical infrastructure strained.
Portuguese authorities reported the man’s death occurred in the Alentejo region on Wednesday after his vehicle was caught on a flooded road near a dam. Across the border in Spain’s Malaga province, emergency crews conducted a desperate overnight search for the missing girl. "We combed the river from the point she fell in all the way to its mouth," said Malaga fire chief Manuel Marmolejo. "We found the dog, but not her."
The human and economic toll is mounting rapidly. Portuguese Economy Minister Manuel Castro Almeida indicated that reconstruction costs from last week’s Storm Kristin alone could exceed 4 billion euros ($4.7 billion). In the town of Alcacer do Sal, residents waded through waist-deep water after the Sado river burst its banks, with sandbag barricades offering scant protection to businesses. "I've never seen anything like this. It's surreal," said local resident Maria Cadacha. "There are a lot of good people here, shopkeepers, homeowners, all facing terrible damage."
With rivers and dams at critical levels, officials warn the crisis is far from over. Antonio Sanz, head of the Andalusia region's interior department, noted 14 rivers and 10 dams were at "extreme" risk of overflowing. Spain's Aemet weather agency has already issued alerts for Storm Marta, the next front expected to strike this weekend.
Voices from the Ground:
"This isn't just bad weather; it's a systemic failure in preparedness. We see these patterns worsening with climate change, yet the response feels reactive, not proactive." – Dr. Elena Silva, Environmental Geographer, University of Lisbon.
"My heart breaks for that family. That child showed incredible bravery. The authorities must throw every resource into finding her and then into preventing the next tragedy." – Carlos Mendes, School Teacher, Seville.
"Enough with the thoughts and prayers and the shocking price tags. Where is the massive, coordinated EU relief fund? Where are the permanent flood defenses? People are losing lives and livelihoods while governments tally costs." – Anya Petrova, Climate Activist, Barcelona. [Emotional/Sharp]
"The data is staggering—over a million incidents handled by emergency services in Andalusia in one day. This stretches first responders to the absolute limit. The coming storm will test a system already on the brink." – David Chen, Risk Analyst, Global Reinsurance Firm.
By early Thursday, Portugal's National Civil Protection had registered at least 70 storm-related incidents, a number likely to climb as the adverse weather persists.
(Reporting by Paolo Laudani; Editing by Charlie Devereux and Alexandra Hudson)