storm leonardo spain andalusia flooding grazalema evacuation cadiz severe weather heavy rainfall southern spain emergency measures andalusian authorities civil guard evacuations extreme weather spain floods sierra de cadiz guadalete river floodingThe Andalusian authorities have ordered the complete evacuation of the municipality of Grazalema, in the province of Cádiz, due to the extreme impact of Storm Leonardo, which has been battering large parts of southern Spain with exceptionally heavy rainfall for days.
Spain Press Editorial Team
The decision was announced by the President of the Andalusian regional government, Juanma Moreno, who stressed that the measure is purely preventive, based on technical assessments and aimed solely at protecting the population.
“The safety of citizens is our top priority. This evacuation is sensible, necessary and responsible,” Moreno said.
Orderly evacuation, house by house
According to the Guardia Civil, the evacuation is being carried out section by section and house by house to ensure a controlled and safe operation. Grazalema has a population of around 1,600 residents, and all available emergency personnel and resources have been mobilised to facilitate their relocation.
Authorities have urged residents to remain calm, emphasising that the process is coordinated and being carried out without time pressure.
Exceptional rainfall levels
Grazalema is currently considered the epicentre of the severe weather in Andalusia. In just 16 hours, the town recorded the equivalent of an entire year’s rainfall in Madrid. Although the intensity of the rain has eased slightly in recent hours, the situation remains critical.
The ground is fully saturated and aquifers are overflowing. Water has entered many homes through walls, floors and even electrical sockets. Experts are warning of a high risk of landslides and structural damage to buildings.
Thousands of incidents across Andalusia
Since the severe weather episode began on 27 January, more than 7,400 incidents have been recorded across Andalusia, with approximately 43 per cent linked directly to Storm Leonardo. In the past 24 hours alone, more than 900 people in the Sierra de Cádiz have been forced to leave their homes.
Arcos de la Frontera has also been badly affected, with around 800 residents evacuated due to historic flooding of the Guadalete River. Several municipalities were temporarily cut off after access roads were submerged.
😯Las espectaculares imágenes de la Guardia Civil que revelan la magnitud del temporal en Grazalema
🗞 Toda la información: https://t.co/042NG9vCJj pic.twitter.com/95wu3hPVzD
— Sevilla Actualidad (@SevillaActual) February 5, 2026
Situation remains critical
The regional government is taking advantage of a brief lull in weather conditions to carry out the evacuation of Grazalema safely. Several reservoirs in the province of Cádiz remain close to capacity.
Authorities have not ruled out further measures should weather conditions deteriorate again in the coming days.
