The regional government of Castile and León warns of continued dangers from rain in the Spanish province despite somewhat more favourable weather forecasts Ávila. The reservoir is a particular focus for the authorities El Horcajo at Piedralaves. The village had been evacuated as a precaution because of the risk of flooding.
Government spokesperson Carlos Fernández Carriedo said on 12 November 2026, according to the news agency Europa Press, that forecasts for Ávila were somewhat better than before. However, he did not give the all-clear. Fernández Carriedo, who is also the regional government’s minister for the economy and finance, referred to the effects of Storm Charles and the monitoring of another low-pressure system.
The spokesperson announced a meeting of the coordinated emergency response team in Ávila for the morning. The current situation was to be assessed there, and a decision made on which measures should remain in place and which could be lifted. He said the regional government was in contact with the state weather service, the Tajo water authority and Piedralaves town council. The risk at the dam was a particular concern.
The evacuation of Piedralaves began on 10 November after heavy rain. Civil Protection informed residents via the mobile phone alert system ES-Alert. The municipal sports hall and the school San Juan de la Cruz were set up as temporary shelters. Residents of a care home were also moved elsewhere.
According to a report by the newspaper La Razón, the water level had initially fallen by about three metres on 11 November. It later rose again and water spilled over the dam. In the evening, the emergency response team decided to keep the evacuation in place for the time being. An overflow is not the same as a dam failure.
On 12 November, classes that had previously been suspended in other parts of the Tiétar Valley were also due to resume. Piedralaves was exempt because of the evacuation. Healthcare services in the affected area were also due to return to normal following the decision taken the previous evening.
Whether and when residents can return to Piedralaves depends on further assessment of the situation. The meeting announced for the morning was to decide which protective measures were still necessary; Europa Press’s report initially gave no outcome.
Editor: Andreas M. Brucker (Article created with AI assistance).