Spain has declared a state of emergency and issued an orange alert across 14 provinces as the country braces for the impact of heavy rains and Storm Boris.
The storm, driven by a low-pressure system, is expected to bring severe instability, particularly to eastern parts of the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands, according to the Spanish Meteorological Agency (AEMET).
Officials have also warned of potential flash floods, especially in normally dry riverbeds and low-lying areas.
The heavy downpour has already caused disruptions, including flooding of the railway tracks in Villarreal de Huerva, which has suspended train services along the Zaragoza-Teruel-Valencia route.
Three regional trains have been affected, and the national railway company Renfe has arranged buses to transport passengers between affected stations.
In the Balearic Islands, an orange alert has been issued due to anticipated thunderstorms, with rainfall expected to reach up to 50 liters per square meter per hour.
Strong winds, ranging from 70 to 120 kilometers per hour, are also forecasted, creating hazardous conditions across the region.
Storm Boris has already wreaked havoc across Central and Eastern Europe, with the death toll from the storm rising to 23.
The Czech Republic recently reported the discovery of a woman’s body who had been missing, bringing the total fatalities up. In the region, more than 100 towns remain flooded, and power outages persist in several countries.
Austria’s Interior Minister, Vit Rakusan, noted that there have been at least three incidents involving looters and 17 violations of emergency regulations. Security forces are monitoring the affected areas to prevent further looting in evacuated homes.
