President of Andalucia Juanma Moreno has urged residents to ‘exercise extreme caution’ as what he described as ‘unprecedented weather episodes’ continue to hit the region under Storm Leonardo.
His warning comes as Andalucia faces widespread flooding, evacuations and transport disruption, with incidents reported across multiple provinces.
Visit to flooded areas in Jerez
Moreno made the remarks during a visit to flood-affected areas of Jerez de la Frontera (Cadiz), where he reviewed the scale of the damage and stressed the need for continued vigilance.
He described the situation as highly complex, explaining that the ground is now completely saturated, meaning it can no longer absorb or drain water.
Instead, rainfall is running straight off the surface, dramatically increasing flood risk.
According to the regional president, rivers and streams are exceeding their normal maximum levels in many parts of Cadiz province – particularly in Jerez – as well as in other areas of Andalucía.
Strong warning to the public
Moreno issued a firm appeal to the public not to approach riverbeds or streams under any circumstances, warning that rising water levels can be extremely dangerous.
Emergency services have already had to rescue people who attempted to cross flooded areas, despite official warnings.
Thousands evacuated, dozens of roads affected
In his latest update, Moreno confirmed that around 4,000 people have been evacuated across six Andalusian provinces, a figure that could rise further. At least 15 municipalities remain cut off, with emergency crews working to restore access where possible.
The storm has also caused major damage to infrastructure:
- 87 roads are currently closed or partially affected
- Some routes have been washed away or structurally damaged by floodwaters
- 200 emergency incidents were recorded overnight alone
Since 27 January, when this prolonged atmospheric river began affecting the region, authorities have logged a total of 7,454 incidents.
Emergency services stretched
Security forces, local police and emergency crews continue to work around the clock, often intervening to prevent people from entering dangerous flood zones.
Moreno reiterated the message clearly: flooded streams and rivers must not be crossed, underlining that the risk to life increases rapidly as water levels rise.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as Storm Leonardo maintains its grip on southern Spain.
