Spain’s southern coast was hit by violent storms with gale-force winds while the country continues to fight devastating wildfires. Trees were uprooted, structures collapsed, and five people had to be rescued after boats were swept out to sea.

On a beach in Costa Granadina, near Granada, bathers were forced to flee for cover as powerful winds and soaring temperatures hit the area. Sand whipped across the shore, trees were torn from the ground, and chaos unfolded as holidaymakers panicked. According to Daily Mail, at least five people required rescue when vessels were carried away into open waters.

The resorts of Motril and Almuñécar were among the hardest hit. In Motril, footage captured dramatic scenes of destruction, including a fiberglass swimming pool collapsing under the force of the storm.

40°C Heat and Winds up to 85 km/h

Spain’s meteorological service Aemet confirmed on X (formerly Twitter):

“Temperatures rose to 40°C at 7:50 p.m., accompanied by very strong gusts of wind reaching 85 km/h.”

Motril’s mayor, Luisa García Chamorro, issued an urgent warning on social media:

“Caution. We are experiencing a heat burst with extremely strong, almost hurricane-like winds. Do not leave your homes or stay on the streets. Please be very careful.”

Local witness Laura Bueno, who was on Torrenueva beach during the rescues, described terrifying scenes:

“What a shock! A heat burst swept away chairs and umbrellas. It was a scorching wind like the Sahara. Containers were overturned and everything was thrown into the sea. Children and adults had panic attacks.”

Another resident added:

“I can’t remember seeing the weather change so quickly in such a short time.”

Spain’s Wildfires Worsen

At the same time, wildfires continue to rage across Spain, destroying at least 300,000 acres of land. Four people — including a firefighter — have died. The blazes have devastated regions such as Asturias, Castile and León, Extremadura, and Galicia, forcing road and rail closures.

By Monday, fires had spread to the southern slopes of the Picos de Europa mountains, prompting authorities to close sections of the famous Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route.

Defense Minister Margarita Robles told Cadena SER:

“This is a fire situation we haven’t experienced in 20 years. The blazes are fueled by climate change and extreme heatwaves.”

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Spain would deploy 500 more troops, adding to the 1,400 already on the ground. He warned:

“Difficult days lie ahead, and unfortunately the weather is not on our side.”

He also said the scale of the emergency response is “probably the largest civil protection mobilization in Europe’s history.”

In Galicia alone, firefighters continue battling 12 major blazes near the city of Ourense, with evacuations and roadblocks enforced to protect homes.