Woman killed by falling palm tree in Costa Del Sol as Spanish holiday hotspots battered by 50mph gales & torrential rain

A WOMAN has been killed by a falling palm tree in Costa Del Sol amid torrential rainfall and 50mph winds in the Spanish holiday hotspot.

It comes as Storm Joseph continues to wreak havoc – with authorities issuing warnings for heavy rainfall or strong gusts across nearly half of the country.

Emergency services rushed to the scene of the accident where a tree had been knocked over due to relentless winds in Torremolinos, Malaga.

Following several unsuccessful attempts to resuscitate her, she was tragically pronounced dead at the scene, authorities confirmed.

Gale-force winds and extraordinary levels of rainfall have torn through the popular holiday destination – bursting river banks and sparking travel chaos.

In Palencia, north of Madrid, a mudslide dumped heaps of debris on a main road.

The terrifying ordeal left a driver trapped underneath the rubble – but he was later rescued and unharmed.

In Zamora, a motorist crashed into a tree which had been felled by the howling winds.

Rivers in the Castilla y León region – including the Tera, Duerna and Negro – have swelled up in response to the torrential rain.

Madrid locals have been urged to stay alert for falling branches and debris as powerful winds force parks to shut down.

From Galicia to Andalusia, roads are being closed due to astonishing downpours which have sparked travel mayhem across Spain.

Shocking footage showed palm trees battling to stay upright as fierce winds tore through them.

Huge waves were also seen barrelling towards the coast amid the horror storm.

An orange wind alert has been put out in the Ronda region – where gusts could exceed 100 kilometres per hour and up to 50mm of water is expected to fall in just half a day.

Yellow warnings for rain have been issued in Axarquía, Costa del Sol, and Guadalhorce.

Meanwhile, in the Antequera region, a yellow warning has been issued for wind – with gusts expected to reach 70 kilometres per hour.

Biblical levels of rain and brutal winds are expected to batter the Ronda region.

Up to 20mm of rain water could fall in just an hour – with about 70mm set to fall in 12 hours.

The region’s orange alert will come into effect from 7am to 3pm on Wednesday.

Authorities have dubbed the storm a “significant danger”.

Terrifying waves could reach up to five metres high on Wednesday along the coast of Malaga.

The holiday hotspot’s entire coast will also be under an orange warning on Wednesday due to the catastrophic weather.

The state weather agency (AEMET) estimates Malaga could be hit by 80 kilometres per hour winds.