Storm Adam floods roads and homes in eastern Spain

Weather agency Aemet issued the highest red alert in the eastern region of Valencia and the holiday island of Mallorca for “extraordinary danger” of torrential rain in the early hours of Monday.

Més imatges de Forna (l’Atzúbia, la Marina Alta). El lloc on més ha plogut. Desconeixem l’autor del vídeo. S’acumulen 718 mm en poc més de 24 hores, 550 mm en 10 hores (de les 22 h de diumenge a les 8 h de dilluns). Un registre que passarà a la nostra història meteorològica. https://t.co/t9awSxpDHb

— AVAMET (@avamet) October 19, 2026

The Balearic Islands regional government suspended classes in Mallorca, Ibiza and Formentera, while in Valencia, scarred by Spain’s deadliest floods in a generation in 2024, some commuter trains were suspended until further notice.

READ ALSO: What is Spain’s DANA weather phenomenon? 

Emergency services in the regions of Valencia, Catalonia, Andalusia and the Balearic Islands had already reported hundreds of incidents linked to Storm Adam on Sunday, including flooded homes, roads, fallen trees and material damage.

🚨 Spain, Xàbia/Jávea: DANA Adam is bringing torrential rain and flooding tonight. Roads are closed, flood alerts are out, a second ES-Alert told people to go upstairs, and schools are shut on Monday. https://t.co/UTndLVgKgS

— Volcaholic 🌋 (@volcaholic1) October 18, 2026

In Ibiza, roads were transformed into lakes of murky water on which giant refuse bins floated, partially submerging cars. Beach resorts that host the island’s famous nightclub scene were deserted.

I hope these folks brought their umbrella to Ibiza. Torrential rain drenched the Ibiza airport on Sunday as storms rolled through. The airport says multiple flights were delayed because of the weather. What would your reaction be if you saw this while on your vacation? #Spain https://t.co/RiuXOGGEsT

— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) October 18, 2026

The main motorway to Ibiza airport was closed, with 27 flights cancelled, 16 diverted and others delayed, with a further 37 scrapped in Mallorca, according to airport operator Aena.

SE HA DESBORDADO el río Girona a su paso por Els Poblets. #dana #Adam https://t.co/Ka0gmlrs2R

— Jaume Lita (@jaumelita) October 19, 2026

The army deployed troops from the mainland to help deal with the emergency in Ibiza and Mallorca.

Multiple mass telephone alerts were sent in parts of Valencia, the Balearic Islands and Andalusia, urging the population to avoid unnecessary travel.

Me manda mi amigo Ernest Parra estas imágenes de Oliva Tened cuidado https://t.co/Rm0laVXq2T

— Carlos Aimeur Urios (@CarlosAimeur) October 19, 2026

The Catalan fire service announced that a woman who had fallen into a stream on Saturday in Cabrera de Mar, 25 kilometres (15 miles) northeast of Barcelona, was found dead in the sea. Three other people have died in the Valencia region, two of them in the town of Oliva.

READ ALSO: ‘We’re unprepared’ – Barcelona struggles to deal with more frequent floods

In Andalusia, emergency services reported dozens of rescues, including outside the popular tourist destination of Málaga, where 10 people were extracted from the flooded tunnel of a beach promenade.

@AEMET_Esp Se han lucido. Esto es de hace media hora en #Pedregalejo, #Málaga, pero la #tromba de agua empezó a las 23:45, y ha durado dos horas. Y claro, el @malaga no se ocupa del alcantarillado. Negligencia por doquier. #DANA #Inundaciones #MLG @pacodelatorrep #AEMET https://t.co/m4jL4W8Fwf

— RoSaLíA Martínez🇪🇸 (@ClariceSSmart) October 18, 2026

Scientists say human-driven climate change is intensifying the Mediterranean storms that typically hit eastern Spain in autumn as the sea absorbs heat during the summer, leading to increased evaporation and heavier rainfall.

This week, Aemet announced that last month was mainland Spain’s hottest September on record, after the country registered its warmest summer between June and August.

READ ALSO: Why there are fears of more serious floods in Spain this autumn