In the municipality of Madrigueras in the province of Albacete a 102-year-old woman died in a flash flood on Friday evening, 2 October 2026. According to the emergency services, she was found dead in her ground-floor home after more than a metre of water entered the rooms in a short time. The emergency call centre 112 Castilla-La Mancha reported that around 90 people had been rescued from flooded homes, cellars and vehicles.
The regional government activated the emergency plan METEOCAM at Level 1 that evening and coordinated the operations in Madrigueras. Those involved included personnel from the Protección Civil, the fire service, the Guardia Civil and the local police. According to the regional administration, several access roads were closed because of flooding, and emergency workers were working to secure stranded vehicles and pump water out of buildings. There were no reports of further deaths by nightfall.
The heavy rain hit the town after several thunderstorms brought large amounts of precipitation in a short time. Parts of Albacete experienced power cuts, flooded roads and cellars. The emergency coordination centre received numerous calls within a few hours. The authorities warned people not to enter underpasses, underground car parks or flooded roads. The Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha asked residents to follow the instructions of emergency workers and avoid unnecessary journeys.
After the situation was initially stabilised, work through the night focused on inspection patrols, clearing debris and securing the worst-affected roads. Technicians checked critical infrastructure, while municipal services began cleaning up. The regional government announced a situation assessment for Saturday to systematically record damage to public facilities and private property.
The METEOCAM emergency plan governs Castilla-La Mancha the coordination of emergency services during severe weather. Level 1 is declared when significant damage and dangerous conditions arise in a clearly defined area and require a coordinated response from several services. The authorities said they would continue to review the status in light of further weather developments and operational needs. They initially made no firm statements about possible causes or the long-term consequences of the flash flood; rescue, preventing further danger and restoring access to Madrigueras were the priorities.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).