Latest news with #Aemet
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Freak storms lash Spanish tourist resorts with roads becoming raging rivers and HAIL turning streets white as Brits hide from lightning in Benidorm
A series of freak storms have struck popular Spanish tourist hotspots turning roads into powerful rivers while hail has lashed down and turned streets white. Dramatic footage shows dirty water gushing down streets and into houses in Murcia, southeastern Spain, while enormous grey clouds tower over the province. The Murcia region has been badly hit and in the city of Caravaca de la Cruz, a major pilgrimage site, golf-sized hail balls smashed down on cars. Up to 20 residents from the city were evacuated and spent the night in a municipal sports pavilion, according to local reports. The hail turned into enormous mounds of ice before quickly melting with rapids forming. Mucky fast-flowing water streamed through the region, filling some homes and businesses, leaving the roads barren. Cafes and restaurants were left empty with people taking shelter. Calasparra and Casas Navarro are also among the most affected areas. As was the town of Moratalla, where car windows were smashed. Meanwhile, British tourists in Benidorm have been forced to take shelter as enormous thunder storms lash down on the Alicante region. Idyllic beaches and bars lay vacant as aggresive thunder and lightning hit the province. Video clips circulating on social media show popular holiday spots looking abandonded as tourists remain indoors in a bid look to escape the extreme conditions. Alicante was placed on high alert on Thursday night by state weather agency Aemet. While Murcia is remaining braced for further torrential downpours and thunderstorms until Friday afternoon. The dramatic downpours following a prolonged heatwave in the region, while temperatures have now plummeted to 10C below normal. Parts of Valencia, Barcelona, Girona and Tarragona have also been placed under an amber weather warning for rain and storms this week. The flooding comes less than two weeks after ferocious storms lashed Spain, with 'two swept away' by flash floods. Videos shared on social media showed waterspouts forming along the coast by Cubelles, Catalonia earlier this month. Others appeared near Valencia and Tarragona. Storms ultimately forced a flight from Barcelona to the U.S. to turn around moments after takeoff, as a violent hailstorm damaged the nose of the plane. But as Catalonia grappled with the 'DANA' cold drop, Spain's arid south saw temperatures push towards 40C, with a forest fire breaking out near a popular tourist hotspot. The forest fire broke out in Mijas, sweeping through Mijas Golf, an area popular with tourists, according to the Spanish Eye. The south of Spain has been lashed by fires since the first major heatwaves in June. More than 21,000 hectares of land have burned so far this year. The national weather agency, AEMET, said last month that it was the country's hottest June on record.
Free Malaysia Today
23-07-2025
- Climate
- Free Malaysia Today
Two missing as heavy rains hit Spain's Catalonia
Spain's weather service said about 10cm of rain fell in the space of several hours near Barcelona. (EPA Images pic) MADRID : Two people were missing in Catalonia Saturday after much of the region in northeast Spain was hit by torrential rains, officials said, briefly forcing the suspension of rail services there. Spain's weather service Aemet said about 10 centimetres (four inches) of rain fell in the space of several hours near Barcelona. Firefighters posted on X that they were looking for two people reportedly swept away by a river in Cubelles, a town some 50km (31 miles) from Barcelona. Spain's Renfe train company suspended all train travel throughout Catalonia for a few hours as a precaution before resuming service later in the day. A hospital in Barcelona was flooded and had to refuse patients, roads were blocked, and a plane that took off from Barcelona for the United States had to turn back after its nose was damaged by hail. Other regions of the north such as Aragon were also hit by heavy rain Saturday. Last October, torrential rains sparked devastating floods in the eastern province of Valencia, killing 225 people and causing widespread destruction, the country's deadliest such disaster in decades.
News24
16-07-2025
- Climate
- News24
Heat-related deaths in Spain surge to over 1100 this summer
Extreme heat in Spain was 10 times deadlier over the past two months than during the same period last year, with an estimated 1 180 people dying due to heat waves from mid-May to mid-July, compared to 114 people in 2024, according to Spain's Ministry of Health. Research center Instituto de Salud Carlos III calculated excess mortality due to heat by comparing total deaths between 16 May and 13 July this year with the historical average between those dates. Spanish authorities issued a total of 76 red alerts for extreme heat over the past two months, compared to none during the same period in 2024. This June was the hottest on record for Spain, with an average temperature of 23.6°C, 3.5°C higher than the historical average between 1991 and 2020, according to meteorological agency Aemet. More than 95% of the people who died this summer were over 65 and close to two-thirds were women, the government said. Most excess mortality was registered in the northern regions of Galicia, La Rioja, Asturias and Cantabria, which historically experienced moderate temperatures in summer so are more vulnerable to extreme heat. The institute's finding of mortality attributable to heat is much higher than the deaths from heat stroke reported by regional authorities in Spain. They reported 10 such deaths over the past two months, the government said. Many experts say heat deaths are undercounted in records because confirming individual fatalities as heat-related is difficult.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Is it safe to travel to Spain? What to know after severe floods hit the country
Torrential rain and strong winds have caused mass flooding across the northeastern region of Spain, turning streets into rivers and damaging homes. Cars were captured on camera floating down the El Cardener River in Catalonia after it swelled, while other vehicles were completely submerged. Two people are reportedly missing after witnesses said they saw them fall into the Foix River in Cubelles, around 50km from Barcelona, with local reporters saying that the fire brigade believes they were swept away by the river. A search is being conducted to try to find the pair. Meanwhile, at least 71 patients were evacuated from a hospital near Barcelona amid the flash floods. The floods have affected popular holiday destinations such as Barcelona, Girona and Tarragona. Here's what you should know about the recent floods in Spain and the latest travel advice. Several holiday hotspots and residential areas were first hit by severe flooding at the end of last week, with alerts issued for regions such as Huesca, Teruel, Zaragoza, Barcelona, Girona, Lleida and Tarragona, and Castellón on Saturday 12 July. The flooding has reached parts of northeastern of Spain, with some areas seeing 100mm of rain in one hour, the Spanish meteorological agency Aemet said. Red and orange warnings were issued by Aemet on Saturday, with warnings that the 'danger is extraordinary' and urging people to take extreme precautions. Residents in the Ribera del Ebro region were advised to refrain from travelling and avoid basements, cellars, and underground spaces over the weekend. Flood water flows as it rains in Igualada, Spain on 12 July (Jordi Miserachs) Footage captured by emergency services shows some streets transformed into rivers, while vehicles were submerged by water after they were pelted by heavy rain and thunderstorms. By the evening on Saturday, the red and orange alerts were slowly downgraded until Aemet deemed that warnings no longer needed to be in place as the storm receded. Rain continued on Sunday, but not nearly as severe as on Friday and Saturday. Flights in and out of Barcelona El Prat Airport have been running as normal over the weekend and into Monday, aside from a few cancellations to and from Manchester, Porto and Spanish domestic destinations. Sunday night saw some longer delays, including a 3.50pm Ryanair flight to Bristol that left at 7.15pm. One Delta Air Lines flight on its way to New York was forced to divert back to Barcelona on Saturday shortly after take-off due to damage to the aircraft caused by hail. 'The flight landed safely in Barcelona and customers were reaccommodated on alternate flights to their final destinations,' the airline said. If the cancelled flight is covered by UK law, passengers can choose between getting an alternative flight or receiving a refund. If the passenger received less than 14 days' notice of a cancellation, they may also be able to claim compensation. However, this is unlikely if the cancellation was not the airline's fault. Situations such as extreme weather, strikes or other 'extraordinary circumstances' are not eligible for compensation. As of Monday morning, there is no specific travel advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) regarding the recent floods. The FCDO does give general advice about flooding in Spain: 'Flash flooding can cause travel disruption and damage to property and infrastructure. Check weather warnings from Spain's meteorological office (AEMET) before travel and follow the advice of the local authorities.' As the Foreign Office has not warned against non-essential travel to Spain, there will be no special circumstances in place to be able to cancel a trip for a full refund. The conditions for cancelling your trip will be dependent on your holiday provider, so it's best to contact them if you're looking to postpone. There is no obligation for companies to refund bookings if you want to cancel, and you will not be able to claim travel insurance due to safety concerns unless the Foreign Office advice changes. In terms of travel insurance, some policies include natural disaster cover for an event that prevents you from reaching your holiday destination. Check your insurance policies and speak to your insurer to see where you stand.
The Independent
14-07-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Is it safe to travel to Spain? What to know after severe floods hit the country
Torrential rain and strong winds have caused mass flooding across the northeastern region of Spain, turning streets into rivers and damaging homes. Cars were captured on camera floating down the El Cardener River in Catalonia after it swelled, while other vehicles were completely submerged. Two people are reportedly missing after witnesses said they saw them fall into the Foix River in Cubelles, around 50km from Barcelona, with local reporters saying that the fire brigade believes they were swept away by the river. A search is being conducted to try to find the pair. Meanwhile, at least 71 patients were evacuated from a hospital near Barcelona amid the flash floods. The floods have affected popular holiday destinations such as Barcelona, Girona and Tarragona. Here's what you should know about the recent floods in Spain and the latest travel advice. Where in Spain has it flooded? Several holiday hotspots and residential areas were first hit by severe flooding at the end of last week, with alerts issued for regions such as Huesca, Teruel, Zaragoza, Barcelona, Girona, Lleida and Tarragona, and Castellón on Saturday 12 July. The flooding has reached parts of northeastern of Spain, with some areas seeing 100mm of rain in one hour, the Spanish meteorological agency Aemet said. Red and orange warnings were issued by Aemet on Saturday, with warnings that the 'danger is extraordinary' and urging people to take extreme precautions. Residents in the Ribera del Ebro region were advised to refrain from travelling and avoid basements, cellars, and underground spaces over the weekend. Footage captured by emergency services shows some streets transformed into rivers, while vehicles were submerged by water after they were pelted by heavy rain and thunderstorms. By the evening on Saturday, the red and orange alerts were slowly downgraded until Aemet deemed that warnings no longer needed to be in place as the storm receded. Rain continued on Sunday, but not nearly as severe as on Friday and Saturday. Are flights to Spain disrupted? Flights in and out of Barcelona El Prat Airport have been running as normal over the weekend and into Monday, aside from a few cancellations to and from Manchester, Porto and Spanish domestic destinations. Sunday night saw some longer delays, including a 3.50pm Ryanair flight to Bristol that left at 7.15pm. One Delta Air Lines flight on its way to New York was forced to divert back to Barcelona on Saturday shortly after take-off due to damage to the aircraft caused by hail. 'The flight landed safely in Barcelona and customers were reaccommodated on alternate flights to their final destinations,' the airline said. If the cancelled flight is covered by UK law, passengers can choose between getting an alternative flight or receiving a refund. If the passenger received less than 14 days' notice of a cancellation, they may also be able to claim compensation. However, this is unlikely if the cancellation was not the airline's fault. Situations such as extreme weather, strikes or other 'extraordinary circumstances' are not eligible for compensation. Government advice on travelling to Spain As of Monday morning, there is no specific travel advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) regarding the recent floods. The FCDO does give general advice about flooding in Spain: 'Flash flooding can cause travel disruption and damage to property and infrastructure. Check weather warnings from Spain's meteorological office (AEMET) before travel and follow the advice of the local authorities.' Can I cancel my holiday and get a refund? As the Foreign Office has not warned against non-essential travel to Spain, there will be no special circumstances in place to be able to cancel a trip for a full refund. The conditions for cancelling your trip will be dependent on your holiday provider, so it's best to contact them if you're looking to postpone. There is no obligation for companies to refund bookings if you want to cancel, and you will not be able to claim travel insurance due to safety concerns unless the Foreign Office advice changes. In terms of travel insurance, some policies include natural disaster cover for an event that prevents you from reaching your holiday destination. Check your insurance policies and speak to your insurer to see where you stand.
