Extreme weather causes drought in Spain and desert bloom in Chile

Extreme weather patterns are causing contrasting environmental shifts in Spain and Chile. In Galicia, Spain, record low rainfall has depleted the Eiras reservoir, which supplies the Vigo metropolitan area. The receding water levels have exposed the remains of the village of Eiras, a settlement that was submerged in the 1970s to facilitate the dam's construction. Additionally, the drought has reduced water flows in local landmarks such as the Bouzafría waterfall.

Conversely, the Atacama Desert in Chile is experiencing a massive flowering event following unprecedented winter rainfall triggered by the El Niño phenomenon. Some areas recorded over 180 mm of rain, an unprecedented amount for the region. This moisture has activated seeds and bulbs from approximately 200 species, expected to cover 15,000 hectares by October. While the desert bloom is a significant biological event, the intense storms also caused human and material damage in northern Chile, including 13 deaths and thousands of affected homes.