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The Independent
2 days ago
- 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.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
New Zealand braces for severe weather as storm threatens flooding
SYDNEY (Reuters) -Heavy rain and strong winds lashed parts of New Zealand on Friday as a cold front moved east across the country, and authorities warned conditions could worsen over the next 24 hours, triggering floods and landslides. The northern regions of both the South Island and North Island of the country could be severely affected by the wild weather, the country's weather bureau said in its latest update. New Zealand's MetService said the wind would pick up from Friday afternoon, with gusts of up to 120 kph (75 mph) forecast for some regions. There could be severe thunderstorms later on Friday, MetService's Heather Keats said. A state of local emergency has been declared for the Nelson Tasman region for the second time in as many months with officials warning that rivers could rise quickly because the ground remains wet following floods at the end of last month. Motorists have been urged to stay off the roads, while the authorities have asked residents in the Nelson Tasman region to evacuate their homes if they feel unsafe. "In these conditions, it's just not worth the risk," the Tasman District Council said in a post on social media. "We have a number of roads already closed ... and we're expecting more closures to happen in the coming hours due to tree falls from heavy winds and significant surface flooding."
Time of India
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
All Environmental Hazards and Effects in Death Stranding 2
Image via: Sony Interactive Entertainment While Death Stranding 2 may pick up Sam Porter Bridges' travels through these uncharted and dangerous terrain like Mexico to Australia, the game's environmental threats churning travel quickly begins to become more than a long subway ride to work, a primal race against death. Far from just setting the stage, these environmental hazards act as colorful puzzles, forcing players to predict, react, and creatively use their arsenal of weaponry to overcome them. Here's an exhaustive scenic tour of each ecological calamity in the video game, how they'll block your path, and the smartest methods to salvage those square-tiled travels. Timefall : The Rain That Ages All Perhaps the most well-known hazard returning from the original Death Stranding, Timefall is a rain that rapidly ages anything it comes into contact with cargo containers, equipment, even the terrain itself. Effect : Timefall slowly increases damage to cargo container health, risking the integrity of your precious contents inside and jeopardizing your precious S Rank delivery. In addition, when it comes into contact with rain, the damage multiplies if dropped or used incorrectly. Strategy : Make sure you always have a Container Repair Spray unlocked extremely early in the game and deploy it right after the rain stops. For demolition, construct a timefall shelter with PCC. Though these shelters only offer the benefits of standard cargo storage when vacant, once filled with repellant, they offer protection from BTs, making them a useful tool in dangerous areas. Death Stranding 2: 10 Things The Game DOESN'T TELL YOU Strong Winds : Sandstorms That Steal Your Balance Exploring far out across vast, arid, wilderness-like terrains exposes Sam to fast-moving, fierce sandstorms that come in the shape of Strong Winds. Effect : Strong winds resulting in impossible visibility from blowing snow make it deadly for walkers. When loaded with delicate freight, small impacts can create a dramatic chance of toppling or being upended by the breeze, causing large freight losses. Strategy : When you see the first wafts of sand dancing in the air far on the horizon, prepare for the storm. Look for natural cover, rock faces, structures, or walls and let Sam experience a bit of R&R by pressing Square to regain stamina. If the wind is at your back, this can work to your advantage on your journey, giving you a boost from the tailwind and reducing your travel time. Earthquakes : The Ground Beneath Unyielding and cataclysmic, an earthquake can level even the most experienced porter. Effect : Underbelly inequities Violent tremors cause cargo spills, as flammable container fires crossed the road, and risk of liquefaction-induced landslides. It's harder to move and stay balanced if the ground is shaking and rolling. You're more likely to fall and injure yourself. Strategy : Choosing impact categories When the big one hits, don't panic, find open ground and stay there until the shaking stops. If you do fall, having your cargo well tied down and as close to the ground as possible will guarantee that you cause as little loss as possible. Rising Waters: Nature's Sudden Barrier Frighteningly enough, crossing rivers has never been safe in Death Stranding. Death Stranding 2 raises that risk a hundredfold with surprise spikes in water depth. Effect : Sudden unexpected high tides can wash Sam and his precious cargo away, making some sections treacherous passages at times. Strategy : Carefully scout every road crossing ahead of time and look for alternate paths. Once water begins to enter, if it's flooding over the top, return to higher ground and ride the storm out. Whatever the cause, the attempt to cross a flood will just about always make for a tragic outcome. Things I Wish I Knew Earlier In Death Stranding 2 (Crucial Tips & Tricks) Tar Pits and Tar Seas : Death by Voidout These dark, treacherous pits are not just dangerous traps. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Chrissy Metz Is So Skinny Now And Looks Gorgeous Undo They're deadly deathtraps. Effect : If your feet sink too deep in tar, you begin to sink, cargo becomes damaged, or even a Voidout occurs (a large explosion resulting from dying near BTs). Strategy : Run, don't walk to escape this one. If it's impossible to avoid tar zones, establish a route around tar zones or deploy equipment capable of reaching above dangerous areas. Where Death Stranding 2 really shines is in making its unique environments more than just window dressing. They're unpredictable, powerful, visceral risks that can upend even the best-laid plans to which we've worked so hard. Every hazard needs to be learned. Even more than the opportunity to build this world safe enough to survive, is this hope that we can bring from a healed and mended world—hope over a broken and splintered world. So pack smart, walk safe, and never underestimate the first wrath of Mother Nature. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
