A 41-year-old man has died after a large rock fell onto his car during Monday’s torrential rain in Malaga province, prompting renewed warnings about the dangers of driving in extreme weather.

Three other occupants of the vehicle, two men aged 21 and a woman aged 19, were injured in the incident on the MA-8400 road between Benaojan and Estacion de Benaojan, near Ronda, on Monday, October 19. They were taken to hospital for treatment, according to Andalucia’s 112 emergency service.

The accident happened at around 4.11pm, when a rock broke away from a hillside and struck the vehicle. The Guardia Civil, provincial firefighters and medical teams were called to the scene.

Orange weather alerts mean serious danger

The tragedy occurred as parts of Malaga province were experiencing intense rain and thunderstorms. The Spanish weather agency AEMET had issued orange warnings for areas including Ronda, with further warnings covering the Sol and Guadalhorce districts as the storm developed.

An orange weather warning is not simply advice to take an umbrella. AEMET classifies it as a level of important danger, meaning weather conditions could cause serious harm, particularly to people in exposed locations.

Heavy rain can make roads treacherous within minutes. Water reduces tyre grip, increases stopping distances and can cause aquaplaning. On rural and mountain roads, intense downpours can also contribute to flash flooding, landslides and falling rocks or branches. Drivers should remember that even a familiar route can become dangerous when conditions change rapidly.

What should drivers do in extreme rain?

Spain’s Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) advises motorists to reduce their speed, increase the distance from the vehicle in front and use dipped headlights so they can be seen more easily.

Its recommendations also include:

• Avoid unnecessary journeys: If an orange warning is in force and conditions are deteriorating, consider postponing non-essential travel.
• Never drive through floodwater: Water depth and the condition of the road beneath it can be difficult to judge.
• Watch for falling debris: Take particular care on roads beneath steep slopes, cliffs and exposed rock faces.
• Avoid sudden braking: Smooth driving helps reduce the risk of losing grip on wet surfaces.
• Stop safely if visibility becomes dangerous: Pull completely off the carriageway at a suitable place and wait for conditions to improve. Never stop in a live traffic lane.

Check the forecast before setting off

Drivers in Spain can check the latest warnings on the official AEMET website and road conditions through the DGT. Weather alerts can change during the day, so checking before departure is not always enough if a journey is lengthy.

The Benaojan accident is a stark reminder that dangerous weather is not confined to flooded streets and motorways. On exposed mountain roads, falling rocks can pose a potentially fatal risk. When an orange warning is in force, the safest journey may be the one that can wait.

Fire crews arrive at scene of avalanche. Credit: Junta

Residents and tourists along Spain’s Mediterranean coast are being warned to prepare for a weekend of heavy rain and thunderstorms, with parts of Murcia now facing an orange weather alert. The Cartagena and Mar Menor areas could see up to 50 litres of rain per square metre in just one hour on Saturday, October 17, while other coastal regions, including Alicante and parts of Andalucía, also face unsettled conditions.

State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has issued a special weather warning, and the Ministry of the Interior has also warned residents and tourists to take the necessary measures to deal with the dangerous weather conditions.

The change comes after several days of unusually warm temperatures for mid-October. A developing weather system involving a DANA could bring intense and persistent rainfall to parts of eastern and southern Spain, although forecasters stress that the exact locations and intensity remain uncertain.

Almeria has been hit by torrential rain, with streets flooded in El Ejido and hail reported in Dalías, as Storm Adam brings intense downpours to southern Spain. The Poniente area recorded around 45 litres of rain per square metre at El Ejido by early Saturday afternoon, while the Junta de Andalucia activated its flood emergency plan. At 3.31pm, Civil Protection sent an Es-Alert emergency message to mobile phones after AEMET issued a red weather warning for Almeria city and the Poniente area. Residents were told to take extreme care, avoid unnecessary journeys and follow advice from emergency services.

The worst flooding reported so far has been in El Ejido, where powerful downpours left streets submerged and rubbish bins being swept along by the force of the water. Hail was also reported in Dalías, where rainfall totals had passed 20 litres per square metre. Further heavy rain remains possible as DANA Adam affects Spain’s Mediterranean coast over the weekend and into Monday, with the risk of sudden flooding in low-lying areas and normally dry ramblas. Residents should check the latest AEMET weather warnings, stay away from flooded roads and watercourses, and call 112 in an emergency.

Cartagena and Mar Menor face orange warning as emergency measures begin

Residents and visitors in Cartagena, Mazarrón, Fuente Álamo, Torre Pacheco and communities around the Mar Menor are being warned to prepare for potentially intense rainfall this weekend.

According to the Cartagena City Council, AEMET’s orange warning will come into effect at 12:00 on Saturday, October 17, and remain in place until 08:00 on Sunday, October 18.

Rainfall could reach 50 litres per square metre in just one hour, with accumulated precipitation of around 60 litres per square metre over twelve hours. Hail is also possible, with the most intense downpours expected between midday and 18:00 on Saturday.

In response, Cartagena City Council has activated its municipal services in the pre-emergency phase, preparing for possible flooding and disruption across vulnerable areas.

Residents have been advised to check roof drainage pipes, clear drains in garages and basements, and avoid parking in dry riverbeds or areas known to flood during heavy rainfall.

The authorities have also warned motorists not to attempt to cross flooded roads or ramblas, which can fill rapidly during intense downpours.

As an additional precaution, public parks are set to close, while large trees in public spaces will be cordoned off where necessary.

The Local Police have identified several roads particularly vulnerable to flooding, including the N-301a near the Rambla del Albujón and the RM-F35 towards La Aparecida.

Outdoor sporting events scheduled for the weekend have also been suspended, including the 10K Puerto de Cartagena race, which was expected to attract more than 1,000 participants.

The authorities are urging residents to avoid unnecessary journeys during the worst of the weather and to follow updated information from AEMET and local emergency services.

Spain weather warning: Which areas face the heaviest rain?

According to the official bulletin of the AEMET on October 15, the weather is expected to deteriorate from Saturday, with showers and thunderstorms developing in the interior, later spreading to the Mediterranean and the Balearic Islands.

Sunday, October 18, could bring some of the most difficult conditions, especially in coastal and near-coastal areas, where the rain may become both intense and persistent.

The forecasts identify several areas of concern, including eastern Catalonia, the Alicante coastline, parts of Andalucía and the Balearic Islands.

Ibiza and Formentera are among the places that will face particularly threatening conditions. An orange alert has been issued for the weekend. Parts of Barcelona and Girona are also under yellow alert, with the rainfall expected to reach 30 litres per square metre in one hour.

In the Valencian Community, the latest forecasts have also prompted orange warnings for parts of southern Valencia province and northern Alicante province, where particularly heavy rainfall could develop on Sunday.

AEMET has warned that some areas could receive between 150 and 250 litres of rain per square metre during the wider episode, potentially within just a few hours. However, forecasters stress that considerable uncertainty remains over exactly where the heaviest rainfall will fall.

The unsettled weather is linked to changes in atmospheric circulation over Europe. High pressure towards the British Isles and the North Sea is allowing colder air to move southwards, while an upper-level trough could develop into a DANA, the Spanish term for an isolated depression at high altitude.

This weather pattern can become particularly disruptive when colder air higher in the atmosphere interacts with warm, moisture-laden air from the Mediterranean.

Some meteorologists have described the possible system as a retrograde DANA, meaning it could move from east to west rather than following the more usual west-to-east direction.

Temperatures are also expected to fall from Saturday, with cooler conditions spreading more widely on Sunday.

In Valencia, daytime highs could fall from around 26°C on Saturday to 20°C on Sunday, while Barcelona could see temperatures drop from approximately 24°C to 20°C.

For residents and holidaymakers who have enjoyed the recent warm weather, the weekend is set to feel considerably more autumnal.

Spain’s Civil Protection authorities urge caution ahead of weekend storms

Spain’s Directorate-General for Civil Protection and Emergencies has also issued a warning following the latest forecasts.

In an official statement published on October 14, the Ministry of the Interior warned of the risk of intense rains in the Balearic Islands and Mediterranean coastal areas.

Authorities insisted that uncertainty over the weather system made it especially important to follow the latest forecasts and official warnings.

Residents in flood-prone regions are advised to take additional precautions, especially when travelling near rivers, ravines, and normally dry watercourses which may become inundated during heavy rainfall.

Motorists should avoid flooded roads, even if the water appears to be shallow, as its depth and force are not easy to judge.

People planning to go outside, to go to the coast or on a weekend trip are also recommended to check the weather conditions in advance.

In the Valencian Community, the emergency services have already warned local authorities to take all preventive measures in view of the expected rainfall. It is said that several events held in the Gandia area have been postponed as a precaution.

Although Saturday is expected to be the first day of the unsettled weather, Sunday and Monday may bring heavy rain to parts of the Mediterranean coast and the Balearic Islands.

Forecasts remain subject to change, and the areas experiencing the heaviest rainfall may shift as the weather system develops. Residents and visitors are advised to check the latest warnings on AEMET‘s official website and follow instructions from local emergency services.