Thursday, July 24, 2025
Yesterday afternoon, Caravaca de la Cruz and several towns in northwestern Murcia experienced one of the most intense hailstorms recorded in the area in recent decades . The severe storm, with its hail and rain, turned streets into veritable rivers and required the continuous intervention of emergency services, who worked throughout the night to restore normalcy.
The residents of Caravaca and other nearby towns witnessed an unusual meteorological phenomenon in the middle of July , with accumulated rainfall reaching historic levels and surprising those who, until just a few days ago, were suffering from an intense heat wave.
Storms hit Caravaca and the Northwest with force
The Spanish Meteorological Agency (AEMET) had already warned of an adverse weather event with rain and hail, issuing an orange alert for much of the northern part of the Region . The forecast proved accurate, and between noon and 10:00 p.m., dozens of calls were received. In Caravaca alone, the 112 emergency service handled more than twenty calls related to storm-related problems, ranging from water pumping to landslides and road obstructions.
Hail, sometimes exceeding two centimeters in diameter, damaged homes, businesses, and vehicles . Several streets in the town, especially around Gran VÃa and Juan Carlos I Street, were covered in a thick layer of ice and water, hindering pedestrian and vehicular traffic. Drainage systems were overwhelmed by the intensity of the rain, preventing the rapid removal of the water.
The intensity of the downpour forced many to modify their usual routes to get home; in some cases, it was necessary to resort to the help of firefighters and local police to relocate the most affected residents.
Evacuations and emergency devices
Around fifteen residents of Cuesta de la Plaza Street had to be evacuated after structural risks were detected in their building, while at least two other homes were evacuated on Doctor Fleming Street. All those affected were rehoused in municipal facilities set up for these types of emergencies.
The emergency response was reinforced with the presence of the Local Police, Civil Guard, Fire Department, Civil Protection, and Red Cross, in addition to maintenance and street cleaning personnel who worked continuously throughout the night . Local authorities expressed their gratitude for the community's cooperation, as many residents spontaneously joined in the hail removal and cleanup efforts.
The Segura River Basin Authority (CHS) and the General Directorate of Citizen Security activated the Special Flood Risk Plan . Several rural roads and dry riverbeds were also closed as a precaution due to the risk of further flooding during the early morning hours.
Flooded streets, closed roads, and record rainfall
Rainfall exceeded 50 liters per square meter in the Caravaca area, with records that marked an unusually rainy July, the wettest in the Region since 1986.
Some streets in Moratalla and Calasparra, also under a state of emergency, accumulated up to half a meter of water and hailstones the size of walnuts. In Calasparra, the hail fell heavily after 17:30 p.m., causing the closure of several rural roads and secondary paths due to overflowing ravines and rivers that reached heights of up to a meter and a half.
The network of weather stations recorded record rainfall figures, with up to 94 liters per square meter in Moratalla and between 50 and 72 liters in other areas near the epicenter of the storm.
Social response and provisional balance
Emergency services in Caravaca responded to 82 calls throughout the day, including the rescue of trapped vehicles and the pumping of water from buildings and garages . Their work also involved inspecting cornices and roofs to assess structural risks and coordinating with water companies to restore essential services.
The storm also caused small forest fires in areas near Jumilla, Yecla and Alhama de Murcia due to lightning, but the rain itself helped to prevent their spread and they were quickly controlled by forestry brigades and environmental agents.
In CehegÃn and other neighboring towns, roads, dry riverbeds and entrances to outlying villages were marked off , and surveillance devices were maintained preventively against possible increases in water flow during the night.
The damage to the agricultural sector will be assessed in the coming days , although at the moment it appears that peach and almond varieties could be affected right in the middle of the harvest season. Agricultural organizations such as COAG and UPA will meet with the affected farmers.
Weather conditions began to improve early today, with the removal of adverse weather warnings for the region. Although ongoing surveillance for possible residual showers remains in effect, the rapid activation of the Inunmur Plan and the effectiveness of the emergency operation have been recognized by the mayor of Caravaca and regional officials for their involvement and coordination.
Caravaca and its surrounding areas have experienced hours marked by the relentless force of hail and the resilience of its residents , in a storm that will remain in local memory both for its exceptional nature and for the social and public services response.