Authorities Evacuate Piedralaves in Spain Due to Dam Overflow Risk

Emergency services ordered the complete evacuation of Piedralaves, a town of 2,200 residents in the province of Ávila, Spain, due to the imminent risk of an overflow at the Horcajo dam. The measure was enacted after severe rainfall driven by Storm Bruna hit the region, pushing water levels in the nearby reservoir to critical thresholds.

The Junta de Castilla y León deployed emergency response units, rescue teams, and local protection groups to manage the evacuation. Authorities utilized the automated Es-Alert mobile warning system to broadcast urgent instructions, directing residents to seek shelter at the municipal sports pavilion and the San Juan de la Cruz school.

According to regional officials, the urban center of Piedralaves sits just 1.5 kilometers away from the reservoir, which holds roughly 0.3 cubic hectometers of water. José Francisco Hernández, the territorial delegate of the regional government in Ávila, stated that technicians could not guarantee the structure would withstand the pressure, citing concerns over an obsolete structure that is over 30 years old.

Beyond the heavy water accumulation, officials highlighted a compounding hazard caused by debris from nearby hillsides. Those slopes were severely burned during a major wildfire over the summer, creating significant risks of mudslides and debris being swept into the water supply and threatening the dam's stability.

The evacuation extended to the town's nursing home, which housed 66 elderly residents. Approximately half of these seniors were relocated to a facility in El Tiemblo, while others were transferred to centers in Ávila or local medical facilities. Evacuated townspeople described moments of intense anxiety, gathering essential belongings and medications as law enforcement officers swept through the streets to ensure compliance.

The severe weather event has deeply impacted the wider region, with the State Meteorological Agency issuing red alerts for extraordinary rainfall capable of dropping up to 120 liters per square meter within a 12-hour period. In response, regional authorities suspended classes across 32 municipalities in southern Ávila, affecting nearly 50,000 people and disrupting health center services.

As emergency personnel maintain a round-the-clock watch on the Horcajo dam, forecasters warn that conditions will remain precarious. A second subtropical depression, Storm Charles, is expected to bring additional heavy downpours and strong winds to the Iberian Peninsula, prompting authorities to urge extreme caution and discourage nonessential travel throughout the affected zones.