AI SUMMARY – Key Points Before You Read
- Spain and Portugal are bracing for a new storm after devastating floods
- Tens of thousands of emergency workers have been deployed
- Damage from recent storms already exceeds four billion euros
- Scientists link the increasing severity of storms to climate change
MADRID / LISBON — Spain and Portugal are once again on high alert as a powerful Atlantic storm system moves toward the Iberian Peninsula, threatening to worsen the damage caused by recent flooding and extreme weather.
The storm, named Marta, is expected to bring heavy rainfall and wind gusts reaching up to 110 kilometers per hour. Portugal’s civil protection chief, Mário Silvestre, described the forecast as “extremely concerning,” prompting authorities to mobilize more than 26,500 emergency responders across the country.
Both nations are still dealing with the aftermath of previous storms, which flooded roads, disrupted rail services, and forced thousands of residents to evacuate. In Portugal, severe conditions even led to the postponement of presidential elections in several municipalities due to safety concerns.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez warned that “difficult days” lie ahead after surveying flood-hit areas near Cádiz. He emphasized the need for national coordination and urged citizens to follow official guidance as emergency services prepare for additional impacts.
Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro stated that preliminary estimates place storm-related damages at more than four billion euros, with costs expected to rise. Coastal regions and river basins are considered particularly vulnerable as rivers remain swollen from earlier rainfall.
Climate scientists argue that the increasing frequency and intensity of such storms reflect broader changes driven by human-induced climate change. Southern Europe, they warn, is becoming more exposed to extreme weather events that strain infrastructure and emergency systems.
Authorities in both countries are advising residents to avoid unnecessary travel, secure property, and remain vigilant as conditions are expected to deteriorate in the coming days.