Spanish Boy Clings to Tree for Eight Hours to Escape Floodwaters

A 10-year-old Spanish boy was rescued on Monday morning after spending eight hours clinging to a tree to escape the floodwaters that swept through the country, claiming at least five lives. The boy, who was staying at a holiday home in Aldea del Fresno, west of Madrid, with his family, found himself swept away by the storm along with his mother and sister when they tried to escape in their car on Sunday night.

As the strong winds and heavy rainfall continued to batter the country, the boy managed to cling to a tree, waiting for rescue. Fortunately, he was found dirty and bruised but still alive the following morning, while his mother and sister were also rescued. However, his father is still missing.

The storm has caused widespread destruction and chaos in Spain, with subways and streets submerged under water. Two people died in the central province of Toledo, and a man was found dead by police during a rescue attempt on a road near the town of Bargas. Another man died as rescuers tried to reach him in the town of Casarrubios del Monte.

The Spanish government’s mobile phone alert system, which was used for the first time on Sunday, warned people in Madrid about the emergency situation. Several theaters closed early on Sunday, and the day’s football match between Atlético Madrid and Sevilla was suspended due to the strong winds and heavy rainfall.

The metro lines in Madrid were closed on Monday morning due to flooding caused by the heavy overnight rains, but they were reopened later in the day. High-speed rail links between Madrid and the southern region of Andalucía and the east coast region of Valencia, which closed on Sunday, reopened on Monday although trains were running at slower speeds in some sections.

The heavy rainfall eased on Monday morning, prompting the state meteorological office to lower its alert level for the Madrid region from red to yellow. Despite the chaotic situation, rescue efforts are still underway, and authorities are working to locate those who are still missing.