Latest news with #ProtecciónCivil
The Sun
16-05-2025
- Climate
- The Sun
More dramatic storms smash Spain as hail warning issued with streets turned to RIVERS & Benidorm Brits left soaked
SPAIN has been battered by another wave of wild weather as freak hail storms turned streets into rivers and left holidaymakers in Benidorm soaked. The latest lashing comes as a yellow weather alert was issued across parts of the country, warning of torrential rain and hail. 7 7 7 7 7 The storms hit southern and southeastern Spain on Thursday, hammering regions including Almería, Murcia, Granada, and parts of the Costa Blanca – with the popular British hotspot of Benidorm right in the firing line. In Librilla in Murcia, 37 litres of rain per square metre reportedly fell in just 30 minutes, sparking sudden flash floods. Shocking videos shared on social media show water gushing down streets, hail pelting rooftops, and cars trying to navigate rising floodwaters. Locals and tourists alike were caught off guard, with many dashing for shelter as the skies opened without warning. Spain's state weather agency, Aemet, issued alerts across several regions as the storms rolled in, warning of 'potential hail' and advising people to remain indoors. The sudden downpour followed days of unsettled spring weather, marking yet another chaotic chapter in what's become one of the wettest Mays in recent memory. Authorities have urged caution, particularly for travellers heading to affected areas. Spain's Civil Protection agency issued multiple warnings for heavy rain, strong winds, and storms, with guidance focused on popular destinations like Valencia, Almería, Majorca and Barcelona. By Thursday evening, most alerts had been lifted, and forecasters expect calmer conditions from Friday, though isolated showers and storms may persist, especially inland and in the Balearic Islands. Shock vids show hols hotspot Valencia SWAMPED with freak rain & hail as 'cyclonic supercell' storm pummels Spain Tourists are advised to monitor local forecasts and follow official advice. Emergency services were deployed across multiple regions to respond to flooding, blocked roads, and waterlogged properties. In some areas, storm drains overflowed within minutes, and local authorities struggled to respond to the volume of calls from residents and businesses affected by the flooding. In Orihuela and Elche, hailstones the size of marbles were reported pounding windows, while footage from Almería showed cars half-submerged and people wading through knee-deep water. The suddenness of the storms left little time to prepare, with many scrambling to protect homes and vehicles. Lightning lit up skies across the southeast and east coast, prompting additional safety warnings. Experts say the storms were intensified by a cold air mass colliding with warm, moist conditions over the Iberian Peninsula — a mix that often triggers sudden, violent weather outbreaks. Meteorologists at Aemet warn that more unsettled weather may return early next week, especially in higher altitude and coastal areas. While temperatures may rise slightly, unstable atmospheric conditions raise the risk of further showers and hailstorms. Local businesses in tourist zones report a drop in foot traffic and last-minute cancellations. Many bar and restaurant owners in Benidorm say fewer people are dining out as tourists opt to stay indoors. Travel firms are monitoring the situation, with some advising customers to reconsider trips to the hardest-hit areas. Flights have not seen major disruptions, but officials urge travellers to stay in contact with airlines as conditions can shift quickly. Despite the chaos, authorities say flood management systems have improved in several urban areas — leaving them better prepared than in previous years. 7 7
The Guardian
10-05-2025
- Climate
- The Guardian
Toxic chlorine cloud near Barcelona confines more than 160,000 indoors
Spanish authorities have told more than 160,000 people near Barcelona to stay indoors after a fire at an industrial warehouse released a toxic cloud of chlorine over a wide area. The blaze, in the coastal city of Vilanova i la Geltrú, south of Barcelona, started at dawn on Saturday in a warehouse storing pool cleaning products, the regional fire service said. 'If you are in the zone that is affected do not leave your home or your place of work,' the Civil Protection Service said on social media. It advised people to keep doors and windows closed in the at-risk area, which stretched across five local districts along the coast, from Vilanova i la Geltrú to the village of Calafell, near Tarragona. No casualties had been reported so far, the fire service said on X, adding that it had deployed a large number of units to bring the fire under control. It said it was 'monitoring the column [of gas] caused by the blaze for changes and for its toxic levels'. The authorities closed roads in the area and shut train stations to prevent people approaching the affected area. 'It is very difficult for chlorine to catch fire but when it does so it is very hard to put it out,' the warehouse owner Jorge Vinuales Alonso told local radio station Rac1. He said the fire may have been caused by a lithium battery. Sign up to Headlines Europe A digest of the morning's main headlines from the Europe edition emailed direct to you every week day after newsletter promotion The mayor of Vilanova, Juan Luis Ruiz López, told the public TV station TVE that now the fire had been extinguished the authorities expected 'this toxic cloud will start to dissipate and we can lift the measures currently imposed'.
The Sun
10-05-2025
- Climate
- The Sun
Tourists in Spanish holiday hotspot ordered to stay indoors as fire at chemical plant releases toxic cloud into air
TOURISTS in a string of Spanish beach resorts were told to stay indoors today after a huge fire at a chemical plant sent a toxic chlorine cloud billowing over the area. Holidaymakers in five popular towns near Barcelona were among 160,000 people ordered to shut their windows and stay inside as emergency services scrambled to contain the blaze. 5 5 5 The fire broke out at around 2.30am local time at a factory storing 70 tons of swimming pool cleaning chemicals in the seaside town of Vilanova i la Geltru, just 25 miles south of the Catalan capital. The blaze caused a massive chlorine smoke plyme to spread across a wide area, triggering an emergency lockdown across Vilanova i la Geltru, Cubelles, Les Roquetes de Sant Pere de Ribes, Cunit and Calafell. In a stark warning on social media, Spain's Civil Protection service said: "If you are in the affected area, don't leave your house or your place or work. "An alert will be sent to mobile phones to inform people about the lockdown." They added: "Don't travel to the affected areas." is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun. 5 5
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Thousands confined indoors by toxic chlorine cloud in Spain
Spanish authorities told more than 160,000 people near Barcelona to stay indoors on Saturday after a fire at an industrial warehouse released a toxic cloud of chlorine over a wide area. The blaze, in the coastal city of Vilanova i la Geltru just south of Barcelona, started at dawn on Saturday in a warehouse storing pool cleaning products, the regional fire service said. "If you are in the zone that is affected do not leave your home or your place of work," the Civil Protection service said on social media. It advised people to keep doors and windows closed in the at-risk area, which stretched across five local districts along the coast, from Vilanova i la Geltru to the village of Calafell, near Tarragona. "No casualties" had been reported so far, the fire service said on X, adding that it had deployed a large number of units to bring the fire under control. It said it was "monitoring the column (of gas) caused by the blaze for changes and for its toxic levels". The authorities closed roads in the area and shut train stations to prevent people approaching the affected area. "It is very difficult for chlorine to catch fire but when it does so it is very hard to put it out," warehouse owner Jorge Vinuales Alonso told local radio station Rac1. He said the cause of the fire might have been a lithium battery. Vilanova mayor Juan Luis Ruiz Lopez told public television TVE that authorities expected that, with the fire being put out, "this toxic cloud will start to dissipate and we can lift the measures currently imposed". du/pb/gil/rmb
Al Arabiya
10-05-2025
- Climate
- Al Arabiya
Toxic chlorine cloud in Spain forces thousands indoors
Spanish authorities told more than 160,000 people near Barcelona to stay indoors on Saturday after a fire at an industrial property released a toxic cloud of chlorine over a wide area. The blaze, in the coastal city of Vilanova i la Geltru just south of Barcelona, took hold of a building storing pool cleaning products, the regional fire service said. 'If you are in the zone that is affected do not leave your home or your place of work,' the Civil Protection service said on social media. The at-risk area stretched across five municipalities from Vilanova i la Geltru to the village of Calafell, near Tarragona. 'No casualties' had been reported, the fire service said on X, adding that a large number of units deployed to the scene had brought the fire under control. It said it was 'monitoring the column (of gas) caused by the blaze for changes and for its toxic levels.' 'It is very difficult for chlorine to catch fire but when it does so it is very hard to put it out,' the owner of the industrial property, Jorge Vinuales Alonso, told local radio station Rac1. He said the cause of the fire might have been a lithium battery.
