Chaos scenes unfolded in Haen, Andalusia, southern Spain, when a strong storm with torrential rain and hail turned roads into rushing torrents within minutes. Marines drifted from the waters, vehicles sank into flooded underground parking lots and emergency services received dozens of calls for help.
According to the Daily Mail, one of the most powerful summer storms of recent years struck Haen on Tuesday night, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, causing widespread flooding and panic scenes to residents and visitors.
The torrential rainfall that hit the city was accompanied by intense hailfall, surprising those on the streets or enjoying the good weather a few hours earlier in a café and bar in the area.
Video recorded at about 20:00 local time show pedestrians screaming for help as their rushing waters lured them and prevented them from standing up again. In one of the most impressive snapshots, a man is lured by the torrent between Calle Doctor Civera and San Clemente streets, while in another video a man seems to float along a flooded road next to a parked car, giving the picture that he is on a river rather than on an urban road.
Watch video
Más de 50 l/m2 caídos en apenas una hora esta noche con aviso naranja activo. Las calles de la capital, convertidas en torrentes.
#Jaén #Tormenta #Inundaciones #AvisoNaranja... pic.twitter. com/S38Ar0eRIw— Hora Jaén (@HoraJaen) June 16, 2026
At the same time, images from the central underground parking lot Parking de la Constitucion caused concern, as the waters invaded at great speed inside the area. According to videos released on social media, the water level rose to the garage roof, fully covering several vehicles.
The fierceness of the phenomenon was such that it rose paved and turned outdoor coffee terraces and bars into dangerous zones, where until the afternoon conditions of summer sunshine prevailed.
Spanish weather service Aemet upgraded the alert level in the area to an orange alert on Tuesday night, as hailfall and heavy rainfall surprised hundreds of residents and workers returning to their homes.
Watch video
Heavy floating due to extreme rainfall in Jaén, Andalusia, Spain 🇪🇸 (16.06.2026) pic.twitter. Com/hvsmM5O3cr— Disaster News (@Top Disaster) June 16, 2026
Although the storm lasted just 20 minutes, it caused extensive problems in Haen and surrounding areas. Emergency services were faced with unprecedented pressure, as within an hour some 50 mm of rain was recorded.
Preliminary elements of the Andalucia Meteoro weather network (AMETSE) recorded 32 mm of rain within just 15 minutes, a particularly rare phenomenon explaining the speed at which the city flooded.
The sudden influx of huge quantities of water caused serious malfunctions in the sewer network. In several areas, rushing water jets were thrown out of shafts and underground drains, aggravating the situation on the streets.
Police and fire department received a total of 110 calls involving flooded garages, basements and other venues.
Watch video
Buckle up! It's going to get much, much worth.
This was Jaén in Andalusia, Spain yesterday. .. pic.twitter. com/hnLly1VJYZ— Volcaholic 🌋 (@volcaholic1) June 17, 2026
The authorities issued an urgent warning calling on citizens to avoid any unnecessary movement. At the same time, they recommended that drivers leave their vehicles immediately if the water level exceeds the wheel axle height.
Yellow warnings of severe rainfall and storms remain in force throughout the province of Haen and extend along the Guadalquivir Valley to the provinces of Cordoba and Seville. Similar warnings have been issued for Granada, as well as for Zaragoza in northeastern Spain.
Jaén in Andalusia, Spain today. ..🌊
📹 Endica Jaén pic.twitter. Com/SOd39eJex Q— Volcaholic 🌋 (@volcaholic1) June 16, 2026
At the same time, orange alarm has been put into effect in areas of northwestern Spain, mainly in Galicia and around Ponferada in Leon Province, where meteorologists warn of increased risk due to intense storm activity.
The first severe weather for this year
These storms are considered the first large-scale summer storms of 2026 in Spain.
Local authorities warn that new intense local rainfall is still possible and call on drivers to closely monitor weather developments.
Despite images of destruction and panic recorded in Haen, emergency service coordinators announced that no serious injuries or extensive damage to buildings have been reported so far.
Watch video
16 Haziran 2026 Jaén İspanya 🇪🇸
Sel #andalusia#poleshift pic.twitter. com/PmNfiemPUf— Hermes (@hermesisos) June 17, 2026
The phenomenon comes only a month after corresponding extreme weather conditions struck another region of southern Spain. At the time, strong flooding and extreme weather phenomena had caused problems in parts of Murcia.
Video with huge turbines
Video published at the time showed huge water turbines rising into the sky, while roads had turned into rivers because of strong rainfall.
The phenomenon, known in Spain as "manga marina", is a rotating air column formed above sea level under stormy clouds and can create particularly strong wind discharges.
In the La Manga area, residents had watched the emergence of many sea tornadoes off the coast during the heavy storms.