Storm Marta: Calm in Spain and Portugal, but human and material losses
Residents of the Iberian Peninsula breathed a sigh of relief on Sunday as the effects of Storm Marta , which battered the region in recent days, began to subside. The storm had left behind varying degrees of damage and loss of life in both Spain and Portugal. The weather improved significantly, with rainfall decreasing in intensity, allowing authorities to begin assessing the damage and gradually working to restore normalcy.
Weather conditions worsen in Spain, but a humanitarian tragedy unfolds
In Spain, the national weather agency confirmed in its latest bulletin that the low-pressure system had weakened, with forecasts now limited to scattered gusts of wind and localized rain and snow. This improvement was particularly noticeable in the southern region of Andalusia, which had previously been hit by severe flooding that forced authorities to evacuate more than 11,000 people from their homes.
Despite the relative calm, the situation was not without tragedy. The nation mourned the death of a road maintenance worker, as announced by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. The tragic accident occurred while the worker was clearing snow with his machine in a heavily snowed-covered area of central Spain. In a separate incident, heavy rains caused a wall to collapse in the village of Canina in Andalusia, injuring one person who was subsequently hospitalized, according to emergency services.
Portugal: Darkness and transportation disruptions amid election celebrations
In neighboring Portugal, civil protection authorities described last night as "very calm" compared to previous days. However, the effects of Storm Marta continue to impact infrastructure; train services were severely disrupted, with several railway lines closed in the north and center of the country, causing widespread transport chaos.
Tens of thousands of residents are also suffering from power outages, as strong winds and fallen trees damaged power grids. These weather and logistical challenges coincide with a major political event, as Portuguese voters went to the polls to cast their ballots in the second round of the presidential election, braving the severe weather and storm damage.
Climate change and the future of weather in the Iberian Peninsula
Storm Marta has reopened the debate about the accelerating climate changes affecting Europe, particularly the Iberian Peninsula. Climate experts point out that this region has become a hotspot for extreme weather events, with an increasing frequency of devastating storms, prolonged heat waves, and droughts.
The increased frequency of such phenomena, such as sudden heavy rainfall following periods of drought, is attributed to global warming, which leads to increased evaporation from the oceans, thus fueling storms with more energy and moisture. These changes place immense pressure on infrastructure and emergency systems in southern European countries, necessitating long-term adaptation strategies to address this "new climate reality.".
