A WOMAN has died in Asturias after being swept out to sea by high waves, and tornadoes have been spotted off the coast of Almería as turbulent weather continues to batter Spain.
Rail traffic has been disrupted between Sevilla and all stations in the provinces of Málaga, Granada and Almería due to flooded tracks, whilst snow has shut roads in Madrid, Andalucía and across the northern and centre-northern strip, including in Madrid.
The woman who was killed, said to be 'middle-aged', had been running close to the shores of the Avilés river delta in the parish of San Juan de Nieva, part of the town of Castrillón.
She and a male companion were training for the Sevilla marathon later this year.
Both of them were dragged out to sea by a tidal surge, although the man managed to swim ashore and call the emergency services.
A fireman, a Local Police officer and the man who had called them were all swept away again as they tried to find the missing woman.
The firefighter was able to get out eventually, but the other two had to be rescued by an emergency services helicopter.
Minutes later, the helicopter pilot spotted the woman and she was brought to shore unconscious, with no pulse.
Paramedics spent over an hour giving her CPR, but she did not respond.
The police officer and the woman's companion were taken to Avilés hospital with minor injuries.
Waves of up to five metres (over 16 feet) smashed against the shores of Asturias and its neighbouring regions to either side, Cantabria and Galicia, all day.
A diver who got into difficulties had to be rescued off the coast of the province of A Coruña in Galicia, although no further fatal victims have been reported.
