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Storm Adam floods Ibiza airport and disrupts flights
Heavy rain forced flight diversions and left parts of the Balearic island under the highest weather alert
Torrential rain from Storm Adam has flooded parts of Ibiza Airport, forcing flights to be diverted and leaving travellers facing major disruption.Water poured through leaky ceilings into parts of the terminal on Sunday October 18, while sewers overflowed and departure halls were left waterlogged. Footage shared on social media showed water cascading across the floor.
Air traffic controllers said the airport was “not operational” and that they were “continuing to manage mass diversions to alternative airports”.
Flights bound for Ibiza were diverted to Alicante and Majorca after heavy rain caused problems on the runway. Seven flights were known to have been affected, including one from London and another from Bristol. Five other UK flights were also understood to have been affected.The main motorway approaching the airport was closed in both directions, while parking areas and nearby roads were blocked by floodwater. Several large tarpaulins outside the airport collapsed under the weight of collected water.
Aemet raised Ibiza’s weather alert to red, its highest level, warning that up to 90 litres per square metre of rain could fall in one hour. The agency said: “The meteorological danger is extraordinary. Vulnerable people and property in exposed areas could suffer very serious or catastrophic impacts.”
Hundreds of people were reported to be without electricity across the island.
The storm has also brought tragedy elsewhere. A woman, believed to be in her 40s, died after being swept away by a swollen stream in Cabrera de Mar, north of Barcelona, on Saturday night.
Her husband managed to rescue their daughter after jumping into the water, but his wife disappeared. Six firefighter units, drones and divers joined the search. Her body was recovered on Sunday morning near a breakwater at a sports marina on Barcelona’s Maresme coast.
Cabrera de Mar mayor Óscar Fernández said the family had tried to cross the surging water on foot when the woman was swept away.
The storm has caused widespread damage across Spain’s Mediterranean coast. In El Ejido, Almería, a black car was filmed drifting backwards down a flooded road. More than 100 litres per square metre fell on the worst-hit El Ejido-Norte area.
Andalusian authorities raised flood-risk plans to their highest emergency level after red alerts were issued along the southern coast. Emergency services received more than 100 calls, many from people trapped in cars.
Valencia residents also received text alerts urging them to stay indoors. Aemet forecast between 200mm and 700mm of rain in the region over 12 hours, and urged people to avoid non-essential travel, dry riverbeds and flooded areas.Images: Controladores Aéreos and Unidad Militar de Emergencias/X.com
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