Two women killed and two babies injured after torrential rain triggers landslide in León

In the village of Manzanedo de Valdueza, located in the El Bierzo area near Ponferrada in western Spain, two women tragically lost their lives and two babies suffered injuries when torrential rain triggered a landslide and torrent of water, mud and rocks. The disaster unfolded on Saturday evening when intense rainfall caused a section of the mountainside to collapse, sending a surge of debris down Calle de la Iglesia and into a wine cellar where six individuals were present.

The two women, aged 60 and 80, perished in the incident, while two infants sustained bruising and required medical attention. A man in his 80s, previously reported missing, was later found unharmed. Mayor of nearby Ponferrada, Marco Morala, described the event as a result of "fierce storms in the hills triggering a large flow of stones, mud and sludge."

Emergency services, comprising firefighters, police, Guardia Civil, and medical teams, swiftly responded to the situation, with the Civil Protection and Emergencies Agency deploying a rescue helicopter to aid in search and rescue efforts. The force of the water inflicted damage on roads, including obstructing a route previously affected by landslides.

Regional President Alfonso Fernández Mañueco conveyed his condolences, stating that "there are no words for a tragedy like this," and extending his support to the affected families.