Tourists travelling to Spain are being urged to take care after Spain’s meteorological agency (AEMET) issued an “extreme risk” weather warning for today. A shocking video shows the extent of the extreme rainfall, showing a railway flooded after torrential downpours. The brown water can also be seen going into the tunnel of the railway in the terrifying footage.
The video was posted on Twitter captioned: “Railway turns to river in Alicante, east Spain today in persistent torential rainfall”. One user commented: “Makes a change from leaves on the tracks…”
Another said: “Wow mother nature.”
A travel warning was issued for the regions of Murcia, Almeria, Valencia and Alicante, with the latter two being the most severely affected.
A cold front has brought torrential rain and holidaymakers are being cautioned about flooding.
READ MORE: Spain: ‘Extreme risk’ weather warning as severe rain and flooding hit
The FCO said: “Flash floods may occur and could cause disruption and delays to transport services.
“If you’re in these areas, you should follow the advice of local authorities.”
Four people have died since the extreme weather hit Spain. Rescue workers say at least one person has died in a car in Granada after a torrent of mud and water engulfed a road.
Efforts are currently being made to recover the driver’s body. It is not entirely clear yet whether there was anyone else in the vehicle which was swamped in a ramp on the A-92 highway in Jámula.
Mayor Jorge Rodríguez said Ontinyent had experienced its heaviest rainfall on record, with more than 400mm by Thursday afternoon. The River Clariano rose nine metres (30ft) in two hours and flooded the streets on Wednesday night, damaging buildings and bridges and washing away cars.
The town is expected to ask the national government to declare a catastrophe in the area in order to claim emergency aid and long-term financial help to rebuild. Valencia residents had to be evacuated when at least two rivers burst their banks. Schools were also shut and some areas experienced power cuts.
Classes for over 300,000 pupils were also cancelled in Murcia and residents advised to take “maximum precaution.”
A spokesman for Valencia fire department tweeted that emergency crews rescued three people from a river, including a 57-year-old man and his 33-year-old son. Thirteen people were also saved from cars or rooftops in Albacete, south-west of Valencia.
Parts of Majorca, including the south of the island and Sierra de Tramuntana were also on alert, with local officials issuing a tornado warning.
A spokesman for a regional government-run emergency services coordination centre said: “Keep up to date with the latest weather warnings.
“Red alert in the Sierra de Tramuntana, inland and southern Majorca because of storms. Strong gusts of wind and possible formation of tornados. Be very careful.”