Madrid’s mayor on Sunday advised all residents to stay indoors as the capital prepares for torrential rains and storms to hit regions of Spain, Reuters reported, according to News.ro.

Spain has been hit by floods due to torrential rainsPhoto: Lorena Sopen / ContactoPhoto / Profimedia

The national meteorological agency AEMET declared a maximum red level of alert, meaning possible extreme danger, for Sunday in the region of Madrid, the province of Toledo and the city of Cádiz.

The agency said up to 120 liters of rain per square meter could fall in 12 hours.

“Due to an exceptional and anomalous situation where rainfall records will be exceeded, I am asking the people of Madrid to stay at home today,” Madrid Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Dark storm clouds gathered over Madrid early Sunday afternoon, but many people were out and about as usual.

“I think (the red alert) is a good idea,” said Manuel Loro, 42, a resident of Madrid. “The best thing you can do is not use your car today. Six o’clock will be the busiest, so we’ll go home earlier.”

Madrid’s emergency services sent text messages to local residents warning them of the risk of flooding and advising them not to use their cars.

La Liga postponed the match between Atletico Madrid and Sevilla due to anxiety.