Torrential rain, brutal winds and even a tornado battered the province of Huelva on Wednesday, causing widespread disruption, property damage, and a serious injury.
Authorities reported 303 weather-related incidents, many concentrated in the western part of the region during the morning, when a red alert was in force.
The alert was later downgraded to orange as the storm system moved east across Andalucia.
Emergency services sent two mass text alerts (Es-Alert) to residents in 43 municipalities along the coast and in the Andevalo and Condado regions.
The red alert sparked confusion in schools, as it was issued after pupils had already arrived, leaving many unsure whether to remain in classrooms or send children home.
Meanwhile, the University of Huelva suspended all in-person classes and activities for the day.
Heavy rain across the province and injuries
According to state weather agency Aemet, the heaviest rain was recorded in Almonte and Ayamonte, each registering 82 litres per square metre by 3pm.
In Gibraleon, where a suspected tornado struck, a man suffered serious head injuries after being struck by a collapsing awning on Calle Juan XXIII.
Emergency teams, including the SUAP and 061 paramedics, responded quickly, performing CPR on-site and stabilising him before transporting him to Juan Ramón Jiménez Hospital in Huelva city.
A waterspout also came ashore in Isla Cristina and damaged property, including a football ground wall, before flooding streets and uprooting trees.
In Ayamonte, the roof of the CEIP Padre Jesus school collapsed, and parts of the town were left underwater.
The local health centre also flooded, while multiple cars were trapped on Avenida de la Constitución and Calle Sor Eloisa.
In Villablanca, two people were rescued from a flooded home, and in Cartaya, the Juan Ramon Jimenez school was flooded.
Authorities evacuated around 60% of pupils. In Valverde del Camino, the mental health unit was temporarily cleared due to water damage, and the basement of the María Auxiliadora school flooded, although classes continued on upper floors.
Travel chaos
Numerous road closures were reported due to fallen trees and flooding, including sections of the N-431 near Gibraleon and San Juan del Puerto, and parts of Almonte and Mazagon, where flooding hit Avenida de los Conquistadores.
In Hinojos, the Arroyo Partido stream reached yellow alert level, with authorities monitoring it closely.
In Huelva city, the fire brigade carried out 108 operations, including the rescue of two elderly people from a flooded property on Calle Santa Ana and the removal of a car trapped by a collapsed drain cover on Calle Ruiz de Alda. Crews also responded to collapsed awnings, fallen branches, and flooding, worsened by leaves clogging drainage systems.
Train services across western Andalucia were severely affected, with Renfe suspending routes due to flooding on key railway lines.
By Wednesday evening, Renfe had suspended all commuter services in the Sevilla area, eight long-distance trains, around 40 medium-distance services, including routes between Sevilla and Cadiz, Huelva, Malaga, Cordoba, and Huelva and Jabugo.
Long-distance trains to Cadiz and Huelva were also forced to terminate in Sevilla.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
