MADRID (Reuters) – The mayor of Madrid on Sunday advised all residents to stay at home as the capital braced for heavy rains and storms to affect parts of Spain.
The national meteorological agency AEMET issued a red alert, meaning a possible severe danger, for Sunday in the Madrid region, the province of Toledo and the city of Cádiz.
She said that up to 120 liters per square meter of rain could fall over a 12-hour period in Madrid.
Madrid Mayor José Luis Martínez Almeida previously wrote on Twitter: “Due to the exceptional and abnormal situation, in which rainfall records will be broken, I ask the residents of Madrid to stay in their homes today.”
[1/11]A view shows flooding along a highway outside Toledo, Spain on September 3, 2023. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes Obtaining licensing rights
Dark storm clouds gathered over Madrid early Sunday afternoon, but many people were outside as usual.
“I think (the red alert) is a good idea,” said Manuel Loro, 42, a Madrid resident. “The best thing you can do is not use your car today. It will be stronger at six o’clock so we will do that.” Go home earlier.”
Emergency services in Madrid sent text messages to residents warning them of the dangers of flooding and advising them not to use vehicles.
The Spanish League suspended the evening match between Atletico Madrid and Sevilla at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid due to the caution.
In Alcanar, Tarragona, on Spain’s east coast, emergency services also confined residents to their homes due to flooding after 215 liters per square meter of rain fell in the past 24 hours.
(Reporting by Elena Rodriguez and Guillermo Martinez – Prepared by Mohammed for the Arabic Bulletin) Writing by Jessica Jones. Edited by Andrew Cawthorne
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