A violent storm unleashed chaos across Jaen on Tuesday evening after dumping more than a month’s worth of rain in just 20 minutes and turning streets into raging rivers.
The downpour struck the city at around 8pm, bringing torrential rain, large hailstones and flash flooding that overwhelmed roads, homes and businesses across the provincial capital.
Dramatic videos shared on social media showed powerful currents surging through streets, with some people reportedly swept off their feet by the force of the water.
In one clip, a car park can be seen filled up to the top with water, while elsewhere a rat is seen scurrying into a bar as a customer tries to keep it out using his bar stool.
According to Spain’s state weather agency Aemet, 33 litres of rain per square metre fell in just 20 minutes.
The intensity of the storm prompted authorities to upgrade the weather warning from yellow to orange across the Guadalquivir Valley, Jaen city and the surrounding Montes de Jaen area.
More than 100 emergency incidents
Emergency services were inundated with calls as floodwater rapidly spread across the city.
Andalucia’s 112 emergency service handled more than 60 storm-related incidents, while Jaen City Hall said it ultimately received around 110 reports linked to the severe weather.
One of the worst-hit locations was the underground car park at Plaza de la Constitucion, which became flooded and had to be closed off.
Local authorities said the entrance was severely affected, although the flooding did not spread to the lower levels of the facility.
The storm also caused power cuts in several areas and sparked a fire at an electricity transformer on the road to La Guardia.
Hail blankets parts of the city
Residents described scenes rarely seen in the city as hailstones covered roads, pavements and public spaces in white.
Floodwater also burst through drainage systems, with water reportedly erupting from manholes and overwhelming sewers.
Firefighters, Local Police and Civil Protection teams worked throughout the evening to restore normality, responding to flooding in homes, basements, garages and commercial premises.
Despite the dramatic scenes, emergency officials said there had been no reports of serious injuries or major structural damage.
The Andalusian Emergency Agency (EMA) continued monitoring conditions late into the evening as the province dealt with the aftermath of one of the most intense storms to hit Jaen in recent years.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
