Tragedy in León: Two women die after flash flood caused by heavy rains in Ponferrada
A tragic day was experienced in the town of Manzanedo de Valdueza, near Ponferrada, following the passage of an intense storm that triggered a flood of water and mud. The meteorological phenomenon resulted in the death of two women, aged 60 and 80, who were inside a cellar at the time of the flood.
Alofoke Deportes has been able to confirm that, along with the fatalities, two babies sustained minor injuries following the incident. Although emergency services initially reported missing persons, authorities have confirmed that, following the discovery of the bodies, there are no citizens left to be located in the affected area.
Community impact and material damage
Heavy rainfall also hit the nearby town of Bouzas, where the flow of water and mud swept away several vehicles, although fortunately no personal injuries were reported in this sector. The situation was complicated because the overflow severely affected access roads, leaving both communities temporarily cut off.
There is great concern about what happened, a situation that is aggravated by the state of the land following the serious fires of last year, which lack the necessary vegetation to provide adequate soil retention.
Olegario Ramón, president of the Bierzo Regional Council
Deployment of emergency services
After receiving the first alerts shortly before seven-thirty in the evening, a massive rescue protocol was activated. Participating in the relief and damage assessment efforts are:
- Ponferrada Firefighters.
- National Police and Local Police.
- Emergency Coordination Center of the Regional Government of Castile and León.
- Psychological Intervention Group in Disasters and Emergencies (Gripde).
- Rescue helicopter of the Civil Protection Agency.
The authorities are maintaining strict monitoring of the evolution of the storm throughout the Bierzo region, while security forces continue working in the affected areas to clear access routes and assess the structural damage caused by the downpour.
