Iberian Peninsula Grapples with Storm Leonardo, Winter Olympics Faces Norovirus Outbreak
Europe faced a series of significant events on February 5th and 6th, 2026, ranging from severe weather conditions in Spain and Portugal to health concerns impacting the Winter Olympics.
Storm Leonardo brought torrential rain and strong winds to the Iberian Peninsula, resulting in a man's death in Portugal and the search for a missing girl in Spain, according to Sky News. The man, believed to be about 70 years old, died in Portugal's southern Alentejo region after his car was swept away by floodwaters. The storm forced the evacuation of 4,000 people in Andalusia, Spain, Euronews reported. Homes were damaged and roads and towns were flooded.
Meanwhile, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, a women's ice hockey match between Finland and Canada was postponed due to a norovirus outbreak, Sky News reported. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) stated that the decision was made after consultations with medical professionals who identified cases within the Team Finland camp. The rearranged match is scheduled to be played on February 12th at the Rho Arena, a temporary venue built specifically for ice hockey.
In other news, the United States announced an additional $6 million in aid to Cuba, despite ongoing diplomatic tensions, Euronews reported. The aid is intended for those affected by Hurricane Melissa in Cuba's eastern region. According to Euronews, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has accused the U.S. of an energy blockade.
Adding to the day's headlines, Queen Máxima of the Netherlands began training to become an army reservist, Euronews reported. This decision comes as the incoming Dutch coalition government plans to increase the nation's military personnel from approximately 80,000 to 122,000. The Ministry of Defence stated that Queen Máxima, the 54-year-old Argentine-born wife of King Willem-Alexander, decided to become a reservist because "the security of the Netherlands can no longer be taken for granted." She is expected to be sworn in later this month.
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