Hailstorms struck Murcia’s Altiplano region on May 10 and continued in the following days. The storms hit hardest in Yecla and Jumilla, damaging nearly 40 000 ha (98 840 acres) of farmland.
According to the Coordinator of Farmers and Ranchers Organizations (COAG), the total estimated losses amount to €80 million, including €45 million for fruit crops, €13 million for almonds, €11 million for vineyards, €8.13 million for olives, and €1.18 million for cereals. An additional €15 million in indirect costs is expected due to disruptions in handling, packaging, and transport.
In Yecla, approximately 6 000 ha (14 800 acres) of vineyards, almond trees, olive groves, and cereals were affected. Jumilla recorded damage to over 4 700 ha (11 600 acres) of vineyards, with an average yield loss of 65%, according to the local agrarian office. Several plantations lost their entire harvests, and trees were weakened for the next growing season.
The intensity of the storms caused structural damage to trees and vines, with COAG estimating potential yield reductions of €39 million in the following season. Murcia’s Agriculture Minister, Sara Rubira, stated that the damage threatened future harvests, citing scarred trunks and defoliated canopies that would require expensive recovery measures. Farmers are expected to face increased pruning and replanting costs.
Heavy rainfall of up to 100 mm (4 inches) in local dry riverbeds, resulting in soil erosion and possible runoff of pesticides and fertilizers. The loss of foliage disrupted habitats for insects and birds, while waterlogging increased the risk of root rot in crops.
The Spanish National Meteorological Agency (AEMET) issued a Yellow weather warning on May 14 for Murcia from 12:00 to 20:00 local time (LT), citing risks of heavy rain, hail, and thunderstorms. The alert, which covered northern areas of the region, advised residents to avoid travel due to possible flooding and dangerous driving conditions.
The regional government of Murcia requested access to a national climate contingency fund and applied for “zona catastrófica” disaster status. The councils of Jumilla and Yecla also submitted applications for national and EU disaster relief. Regional agronomists began documenting the damage to support aid and insurance claims.
Agroseguro deployed 200 damage assessors to evaluate crop losses. Murcia accounted for 12.5% of Spain’s hail-related agricultural damage in 2025, with more than 10 000 ha (24 700 acres) of insured crops affected. Claims processing is expected to take several weeks. COAG called for accelerated compensation to reduce financial pressure on farmers.
The storms disrupted local economies, leaving more than 5 000 agricultural workers without employment due to crop losses. Supply chains were also affected, impacting wholesale markets and exports. Murcia contributes 17% of Spain’s fruit and pulse exports. Farmers reported liquidity challenges and increased requests for loans.
Farmers and cooperatives recovered some fruit for secondary markets such as jam production. Volunteer crews repaired fencing and irrigation systems to prevent further losses. Cooperatives provided trucks and storage for damaged produce, while local brigades cleared debris from rural roads to maintain access.
The Jumilla DOP wine council reported that nearly 100% of vineyards in some villages were affected. COAG and the Young Farmers’ Agricultural Association showed the low insurance uptake among almond and grape producers. Murcia subsidizes 40% of fruit insurance premiums to increase participation.
Historical data indicates an increase in hail events across Europe, with nearly 10 000 large-hail reports in 2023. The 2025 hailstorms in Murcia are part of this pattern, following earlier severe hail in Italy, France, and Romania.
Mitigation measures include subsidies for anti-hail nets and improvements to weather alert systems. The Murcia regional government is advocating for an EU-funded climate-disaster relief mechanism to enable automatic compensation.
On the same day, severe hailstorm struck the provinces of Valencia and Castellón, affecting approximately 12 360 ha (30 540 acres) of agricultural land. The storm caused estimated losses of €7.6 million, with the Utiel-Requena region being the most severely impacted, accounting for over 10 500 ha (25 950 acres) of damaged crops and nearly €7 million in losses.
The affected crops include 7 664 ha (18 940 acres) of vineyards, 2 270 ha (5 610 acres) of almonds, 1 144 ha (2 830 acres) of olives, 825 ha (2 040 acres) of cereals, and 460 ha (1 140 acres) of citrus fruits. In the Plana Baixa region of Castellón, citrus trees suffered significant damage due to hail and wind gusts reaching up to 51 km/h (32 mph).
In response to the extensive damage, the regional government requested the declaration of a disaster zone for the affected areas, including the Vall d’Albaida comarca. Agroseguro, Spain’s agricultural insurance agency, mobilized approximately 200 assessors to evaluate the damage and facilitate compensation processes.
Source - https://watchers.news
