- Title: Madrid on alert, Manzanares river at risk of overflowing
- Date: 20th March 2025
- Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (MARCH 20, 2025) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF POLICE OFFICERS AND EMERGENCY SERVICES OUTWATCHING STATUS OF MANZANARES RIVER VARIOUS OF FLOODED PARK RURAL GUARD AND EMERGENCY SERVICES TALKING POLICE CAR DRIVING PAST VARIOUS OF WATER FLOWING AT MANZANARES RIVER LOCAL RESIDENT WATCHING RIVER STATUS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) LOCAL RESIDENT DAVID, 53, SAYING: “No, I’m not sca
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- Keywords: Madrid Manzanares river Spain rain storm weather
- Location: MADRID, SPAIN
- City: MADRID, SPAIN
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Environment,Europe,Weather
- Reuters ID: LVA001040220032025RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:The Spanish capital of Madrid was on alert on Thursday (March 20) due to risk of the Manzanares river overflowing as a new storm approached the city, authorities said.
Some nearby parks were seen flooded and local authorities were forced to close some access to the M-30 and M-40 in the north of Madrid, highways that surround the city and which thousands of cars pass through every day.
Storm Martinho is expected to hit the centre of Spain throughout Thursday and Friday (March 21) and authorities are warning residents to stay away from areas where levels of water are getting closer to the streets.
Heavy rains hit the country for a third week in a row as Spaniards are still on edge after torrential rains four months ago in the eastern Valencia region led to the country's deadliest natural disaster in decades.
The unusual string of back-to-back storms has helped the country - whose generally sunny weather is a major draw for tourists - put an end to a long-term drought, with many dams now having water released to prevent them from overflowing.
After two weeks of rains, Spanish reservoirs are at 65.6% of their capacity, above the 10-year-average, with a 5% increase in the last week alone.
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