Latest news with #Aemet
News24
5 hours ago
- 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
2 days ago
- 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
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.
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Climate
- Telegraph
Flooded Barcelona hospital evacuated as heavy rains lash Spain
A hospital in Barcelona was forced to close because of flooding on Saturday after Spain was lashed by heavy rain. Streets turned into rivers in the Catalonian capital and other tourist spots after flash thunderstorms and high winds over the weekend. Two people were reported missing in the town of Cubelles, around 30 miles from Barcelona. A witness claims to have seen a woman and a child cross a bridge, fall into the Foix river and be swept away by floodwaters. Half of Spain's provinces were under storm warnings on Saturday, including Zaragoza, Barcelona, Girona and Tarragona. Barcelona was one of the hardest hit areas, with videos showing outdoor tables and chairs being swept away by floodwaters and cars fully submerged. Olga Pané, the Spanish health minister, said heavy rains forced the evacuation and closure of the Penedès Regional Hospital, after damage to its electrical system. Ms Pané said: 'We have decided to evacuate and transfer the 71 patients to the hospitals of Sant Camil, Bellvitge, Igualada, Sant Boi, and Viladecans.' The storm was caused by a weather phenomenon known as Dana, or isolated depression at high levels. It occurs when a mass of cold air collides with a mass of warm air over the Mediterranean Sea. According to Aemet, Spain's weather agency, Vilafranca des Penedès, south-west of Barcelona, received 155mm (six inches) of rainfall. Aemet recorded nearly 3,200 lightning strikes in Barcelona on Saturday alone. Popular tourist attractions in Barcelona, including the Tibidabo amusement park and Park Güell, were closed, while a ban was imposed on swimming at public beaches. Tourists and locals in Catalonia and Aragon were advised to stay indoors and keep away from flood-risk areas on Saturday, after Aemet placed the area under a red 'extreme risk' alert. On Sunday, emergency crews resumed their search for the two people in the town of Cubelles. Rescue workers from the fire department, Catalan police and a maritime rescue helicopter were deployed to search. Rosa Montserrat Fonoll, the town mayor, told Catalan News: 'I've never seen anything like this in Cubelles.' The flow of water reached 7,070 cubic feet per second through the town. Ms Fonoll said that some residents were still without electricity or running water, and others were unable to leave their homes. At the peak of the storm, emergency services received 1,200 calls. Train services were also disrupted, with Renfe, the national rail operator, cancelling services in Catalonia. By 7pm local time, trains had begun resuming service. A US-bound plane was forced to turn back to Barcelona after hail damaged its nose.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Climate
- The Sun
Major search operation underway after two people were ‘swept away by river' following storm at Spanish holiday hotspot
A MAJOR search operation is underway after two people went missing at a Spanish holiday hotspot hit by torrential rains. Rescuers fear that both people were swept away by the Foix River in Cubelles near Barcelona amid heavy storms. 10 10 10 10 The river is said to have burst its banks after floodgates on the dam, which had accumulated a lot of water from the storm, were opened. According to the Fire Department, the missing people were crossing the river on a footbridge when the current swept them away. Footage shows rescuers in a helicopter looking for the missing people over the river. Torrential rains have hit Spain 's Catalonia - sparking a red alert from the weather department. Train service was suspended in Catalonia on Saturday, as much of the Spanish region was placed on high alert over possible torrential rains, officials said. Spain's weather service Aemet said that 90 millimetres of rain could fall in the space of an hour later on Saturday near Barcelona and the Tarragona region. Calling the situation "extraordinary", the weather service warned that torrential rains could cause flooding and urged residents to follow authorities' instructions. Meanwhile, 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 on Saturday. Spain storm and hail warning as 100mm of rain falls in an hour at tourist hotspot It comes as Storm DANA has caused the weather agency to activate red, orange and yellow warnings across dozens of Spanish regions. AEMET forecasted orange-level warnings on Saturday for severe storms in Huesca, Teruel and Zaragoza, Barcelona, Girona, Lleida and Tarragona, and Castellón. These regions have been battered by extreme rainfall and potential flash floods, which could disrupt holidays and cause huge damage to neighbourhoods. The Military Emergency Unit (UME) was deployed to several towns in Zaragoza to help relieve the damage caused by the brutal rainfall. Local rescue teams reported over 30 flood-related incidents, including fallen trees and blocked roads, but no casualties. 10 10 10 10 Shocking footage showed cars being swept away under the waves as intense rainfall pummelled Spanish streets. Hailstorm was seen pelting the pavements as locals took shelter from the dangerous weather. There will also be storm warnings in several other regions, including Alicante and Valencia, the Ribera del Ebro in La Rioja and the Iberian Rioja, and Álava, among others. Spain's national forecaster said that unstable air was moving across the north and east of the Iberian Peninsula, bringing heavy showers, thunderstorms, and in some places, torrential downpours.
