Eastern Spain placed on red alert for heavy rains

Madrid: Spain s weather agency on Thursday issued its highest alert for heavy rains in Alicante in the eastern region of Valencia, where deadly floods...

Madrid: Spain's weather agency on Thursday issued its highest alert for heavy rains in Alicante in the eastern region of Valencia, where deadly floods struck last year, warning of "extraordinary danger".

AEMET said the red alert would be in effect from 10:00 am (0800 GMT) on Friday in Mediterranean coastal regions of the province of Alicante, as well as in the neighbouring region of Murcia.

"Extraordinary danger. Flooding and flash floods may occur. Follow the advice of civil protection," the agency wrote on X.

Rainfall totals could exceed 140 millimetres (five and a half inches) in 12 hours, especially in Valencia, the weather office said.

Widespread flooding in another part of Valencia in October 2024 killed more than 200 people, Spain's worst such disaster in decades.