Spain's Costa Blanca Hit by Severe Storms, Flooding

Severe storms have battered Spain's Costa Blanca, a popular holiday destination, unleashing torrential rain and flash floods that submerged vehicles and transformed streets into rivers. The province of Alicante experienced the brunt of the storms on Saturday morning, with some coastal areas receiving up to 50 liters of rain per square meter in a few hours.

The deluge, accompanied by thunder and lightning, caused sudden flooding. Dramatic footage captured cars stranded in muddy water and containers being swept along roads. One video showed water surging onto a bar terrace, submerging chairs and tables.

Popular tourist spots like Alicante and Benidorm were among the affected areas. Near Denia, a large waterspout was observed over the sea. In Orihuela, firefighters responded to a lightning strike that ignited a palm tree.

Spain's national weather agency, AEMET, described the storms as highly localized but intense, with varying rainfall totals across coastal communities. The agency issued and later dropped an orange alert for wind, rain, and storms, with a yellow alert remaining in place for Lorca, Cartagena, and San Javier.

The storms occurred just 48 hours after a British man died in flash floods near Barcelona. Rescuers found the man's body approximately 1,500 feet from his car, which had been swept away by a stream in Olivella. Catalan Civil Protection reported that the man was in his vehicle and appeared to have attempted to exit before being washed away.

The rainfall on Thursday caused significant travel disruption across Catalonia and Valencia, with canceled flights and submerged roads. Authorities have also issued warnings for potential severe weather in popular destinations such as Benidorm, Ibiza, and Magaluf in the coming days. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez cautioned of 'very complicated situations' and urged the public to avoid travel.

This extreme weather follows Spain's hottest summer on record, which saw widespread wildfires across the country.