World News
Emmanuel Onyemaechi • 5 February, 2026
» Updated 3 hours ago

Storm Leonardo Kills One in Portugal, Leaves Girl Missing in Spain
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    A deadly winter storm has struck the Iberian Peninsula, killing at least one person in Portugal and leaving a young girl missing in Spain. Storm Leonardo, the latest in a series of severe weather systems to hit the region this year, brought torrential rain, strong winds, and widespread flooding to parts of Portugal and Spain on Thursday, February 5, 2026.



    In Portugal, authorities confirmed the death of a 70‑year‑old man in the southern Alentejo region. Floodwaters swept his vehicle off a submerged road near a dam, and rescuers later recovered the car with the man inside. The incident highlights the dangers of driving through flooded areas, even for short distances. In the town of Alcácer do Sal, near Lisbon, rising waters from the Sado River flooded downtown streets, with water levels reaching up to two metres in some places. Residents waded through waist‑deep water, and sandbags were piled at doorways to protect homes and businesses.



    Across the border in Spain, emergency services in the Andalusia region reported that a young girl went missing after being swept away by a swollen river while trying to rescue her dog. Firefighters searched the river from the point where she fell in to its mouth but had not found her by early Friday. The incident has sparked a broader discussion about safety near fast‑flowing rivers during storms.



    Storm Leonardo is the sixth major storm to hit Portugal and Spain this winter, following a string of systems that have already caused multiple deaths and extensive damage. In Portugal, officials estimate that reconstruction costs from previous storms could exceed 4 billion euros (about $4.7 billion), underscoring the economic toll of these extreme weather events. In Andalusia, emergency crews responded to over a million incidents by midnight on Wednesday, including evacuations, road closures, and power outages.



     










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