Footage of heavy rain and flooding have begun to emerge from southern Spain as dozens of towns continue under a red alert.
The whole Costa Blanca south and parts of Murcia are under the most serious warning, issued by state weather agency Aemet for the whole of Friday.
Meteorologists warn that up to 180mm of rain could fall over a 12-hour period, posing an ‘extreme risk’ to personal safety.
Footage shared on X on Friday shows roads in the La Manga region of Murcia being submerged in muddy water.
It comes after a ‘water tornado’, also known as a waterspout, was filmed approaching La Palma in Cartagena on Thursday afternoon.
By Friday afternoon, Rojales in Alicante had recorded 74 litres of rainfall, with one clip showing a huge lightning bolt striking a roundabout.
In Benidorm, the Iberia Festival, which was scheduled to take place this Friday and Saturday, was definitively cancelled.
In an official statement, the festival organisers explained that ‘the forecasts place the event at the most critical moment, and the authorities have determined that the safety of the public cannot be guaranteed.’
Worryingly, authorities in the Marina Baixa area of Alicante are urging the public to take every precaution over the next few hours, with the worst of the storm expected overnight.
According to Aemet forecasts, the heaviest rainfall will occur 10pm on Friday and the early hours of Saturday.
It comes after a car with a megaphone from the Civil Proteccion force was seen driving through the streets of Los Alcazares, Murcia, late on Thursday night.
The megaphone told residents that the area had been placed under a red alert, asking them to exercise extreme caution throughout Friday.
Aemet has issued the red alerts between 10am and 11.59pm on Friday. It warns that ip to 60mm of rain could fall within an hour.
It comes as a so-called DANA (high area of isolated depression) is causing severe rainfall across the eastern coast.
In footage shared online from Orihuela Costa and Elche on Thursday, cars could be seen being carried away by flood water.
Meanwhile, multiple flights were diverted away from Alicante-Elche airport due to the stormy conditions.
According to airport operator AENA, at least two were cancelled and another six diverted, with all eight being on domestic routes.
The towns under red alert Friday include Benidorm, Alicante, Elche, Orihuela, Torrevieja, San Javier, Cartagena and Mazarron.
The red alerts are in place between 10am and 11.59pm on Friday and predict up to 180mm of rain over a 12-hour period.
Much of the Almeria coastline will also be on alert on Friday, albeit on a less severe yellow warning.
Meteorologists predict up to 20mm of rainfall in areas including Mojacar, Nijar and Carboneras.
Also under a yellow alert Friday are parts of Cordoba, Granada and Malaga province.
The towns affected include Ronda and Antequera in Malaga, and Loja, Granada city in Granada and Lucena and Montilla in Cordoba.
The wet weather is being caused by a DANA storm that has been given the name Alice.
