Heavy rainfall from DANA Adam caused significant damage on Saturday, 17 October 2026, in El Ejido (Almería) . According to an initial assessment by the Ayuntamiento de El Ejido the damage amounts to more than five million euros. Around 100 hectares of greenhouses were damaged. Industrial buildings, rural tracks, roads, municipal buildings, schools, parks and homes were also affected. Authorities reported no injuries.
The state meteorological agency Aemet had warned of intense rainfall in the west of Almería province. According to local broadcaster Onda Cero more than 116 litres per square metre fell in El Ejido within a few hours; several neighbourhoods were flooded. Emergency crews cleared muddy tracks, pumped out basements and secured damaged structures.
The municipal administration stressed that the stated damage figure was a provisional estimate. The priority was initially to restore transport routes and record damage to agricultural businesses. Producers are being asked to document damage to plastic sheeting, structures and crops to support possible assistance from the regional government Andalucía or insurance claims. The relevant authorities will decide on the scale and form of public support measures once reliable assessments are available.
In agriculture, the immediate effects are concentrated in crop losses, disruptions to marketing and unplanned repairs to irrigation, power supplies and access routes. The municipality is considering whether special procedures can be activated to award repair contracts quickly. Technical inspections have also been ordered for public buildings and schools to rule out hidden damage to roofs and utility lines.
Statements about longer-term effects on yields and prices are currently speculative. What is clear is that the El Ejido region, with its dense network of greenhouses, is particularly vulnerable to weather-related disruption. The event has also intensified debate about adapting local infrastructure to heavy rainfall. Experts point to the need to adjust drainage systems, retention areas and maintenance schedules to more intense rainfall events. Specific projects will be discussed once clean-up work is complete.
At present, work is focused on securing sites, clearing up and assessing damage. Authorities in Almería announced that they would provide updates on progress and possible support programmes in the coming days.
Editor: Andreas M. Brucker (Article created with AI assistance).