A huge flash flood has ripped through Spain as horrifying images show cars being flipped and streets underwater. A 102-year-old woman has died and 90 people have had to be rescued following the flash floods on Friday in Madrigueras in Albacete, Castile-La Mancha, central-eastern Spain. Madrigueras is around 148 miles from Benidorm and 120 miles north-west of Alicante. 142 liters per square meter of rainfall was recorded in just three hours prompting the activation of a large-scale emergency response plan.

Footage online and released by police shows vehicles and people on balconies watching cars stacked on top of one another and being swept away in the town centre by a powerful torrent of water. A 102-year-old woman was found dead inside her home where floodwater had risen to more than three feet, according to local media reports.

The Spanish Civil Guard wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “Severe flooding in Madrigueras. Heavy rainfall has caused flash floods in urban and interurban roads. The large volume of water has flooded streets and swept away vehicles.”

They warned: “Avoid unnecessary travel and do not cross flooded areas.”

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also wrote: “The torrential and persistent rains of the last few hours have caused severe damage in many areas of our region.

“Last night was especially tough in Madrigueras (Albacete). We are closely monitoring the situation.

“All my thought go to the family of the woman who has passed away due to the flooding, and all our support and solidarity to the affected neighbours.”

He urged people to be careful and follow instructions from official emergency channels.

Regional authorities had issued weather warnings but the sheer scale of the flooding caught local residents off guard. More than 100 calls were reportedly made to the 112 emergency service.

Crews are now working to clear the streets, clean up the worst-hit areas and remove vehicles left stranded or damaged by the floodwaters.