A sudden flood and landslide in northwestern Spain claimed the lives of two women and left two babies injured on Saturday, August 15, according to regional emergency services. The disaster unfolded in the small village of Manzanedo de Valdueza, nestled in the hills of Castile and León.
Emergency Response and Casualties
Rescue services confirmed the deaths of two women, approximately 60 and 80 years old. In addition, two infants were treated for contusions. A third person initially reported missing—a man over 80 years old—was later found unharmed.
Firefighters, police officers, ambulances, and members of the Civil Guard were dispatched to the scene. Aerial footage from a rescue helicopter showed the village surrounded by rugged, forested terrain, with debris scattered across the area.
Violent Storms Trigger Destructive Mudflow
Marco Morala, the mayor of nearby Ponferrada, described the event as a powerful torrent of stones, mud, and silt triggered by violent mountain storms. The mudflow also caused damage in the neighboring village of Bouzas, according to local officials.
The incident highlights the ongoing risks of extreme weather in mountainous regions of Spain, where heavy rainfall can rapidly turn into dangerous flash floods and landslides.
