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Barcelona is facing a red alert warning for dangerous torrential train, with part of the city, including the airport, beginning to flood.
Spain’s transport minister Oscar Puente announced a crisis committee has been set up to monitor the impact at the airport – with 50 flights diverted so far.
Local authorities have issued an alert for “continuous and torrential rains”.
Footage from the city showed the runway at El Prat airport completely submerged as the few planes left on the tarmac were forced to sludge through several inches of flood water.
Meanwhile, in Valencia, the search continued for bodies inside houses and thousands of wrecked cars strewn in the streets, on highways, and in canals that channeled last week’s floods into populated areas.
In the Aldaia municipality, some 50 soldiers, police and firefighters, some wearing wetsuits, searched in a huge shopping center’s underground parking lot for possible victims. They used a small boat and spotlights to move around in the huge structure with vehicles submerged in at least a meter of murky water.
70 flights cancelled and 18 diverted in Barcelona airport
The deadly storm that swept through Barcelona has led to the suspension of 70 departing flights and the diversion of another 18 at Barcelona-El Prat Airport, according to operator Aena.
The heavy rainfall has also caused flooding in key areas, including the T-1 terminal and parking facilities. Passengers have been restricted from the areas while airport staff continue to clear the water and restore normal operations.
Aena said that the storm has significantly disrupted all activities at the airport, resulting in “considerable” delays after air traffic controllers were forced to space out flight departures.
Passengers have been advised to check the state of their flights online and prepare for potential delays as the airport continues to manage the impact of the floods.
Barney Davis4 November 2024 16:30
In pictures: Spanish residents wrestle with the mud after heavy rainfall
Tom Watling4 November 2024 15:51
Spain mobilises thousands of soldiers in flood relief effort
Spain has sent more soldiers to its flood-hit east where rescuers searched for more bodies and anger spread over the official handling of a disaster that has killed at least 217 people.
The army sent about 5,000 soldiers over the weekend to help distribute food and water, clean up streets and guard against looters. A further 2,500 would join them, Defence Minister Margarita Robles told state-owned radio RNE.
A warship carrying 104 marine infantry soldiers as well as trucks with food and water was approaching Valencia port even as a strong hailstorm pummelled Barcelona some 300 km (186 miles) to the north. An alert from regional authorities warned of potential landslides and more flooding.
Tom Watling4 November 2024 15:36
Spain’s reaction shows it’s a dangerous time to be a monarch
Tom Watling4 November 2024 15:21
Firefighters search flooded underground car parks – picture
Tom Watling4 November 2024 15:02
In pictures: Barcelona residents stranded during floods
Tom Watling4 November 2024 14:46
Spanish rescue services scour submerged underground car parks for casualties
In Valencia, the search continues for bodies inside houses and thousands of wrecked cars strewn in the streets, on highways, and in canals that channeled last week’s floods into populated areas.
Spain’s interior minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said that authorities can still not give a reliable estimate of the missing. Spanish national television RTVE, however, has broadcast pleas for help by several desperate people whose loved ones are unaccounted for.
In the Aldaia municipality, some 50 soldiers, police and firefighters, some wearing wetsuits, searched in a huge shopping center’s underground parking lot for possible victims. They used a small boat and spotlights to move around in the huge structure with vehicles submerged in at least a meter of murky water.
Police spokesman Ricardo Gutierrez told reporters that so far some 50 vehicles had been found and no bodies had been discovered there.
The Bonaire shopping mall’s 1,800 underground parking spaces quickly filled with water and mud on Tuesday and Wednesday when the southern outskirts of Valencia were hit by a tsunami-like flooding. The team is using four pumps to remove the water.
Citizens, volunteers and thousands of soldiers and police officers pressed on with their gargantuan clean-up effort to clear out mud and debris.
Tom Watling4 November 2024 14:31
Barcelona aiport flooded – picture
Tom Watling4 November 2024 14:14
Watch: Barcelona Airport runway resembles river as extreme rainfall hits
Watch: Barcelona Airport runway resembles river as extreme rainfall hits
Extreme rain has turned the Barcelona airport runway into a river with many flights suspended as a result of severe weather. This footage shows severe flooding at the airport on Monday (4 November)as the severe weather that wreaked havoc in Valencia brought heavy rain across Spain. Spain’s transport minister Oscar Puente announced a crisis committee has been set up to monitor the impact at the airport – with 50 flights diverted so far. Alerts were sent to mobile phones in Barcelona with warnings of “extreme and continued rainfall”. Residents have also been told to avoid any normally dry gorges or canals.
Tom Watling4 November 2024 14:00
Read More: Spain floods latest: Barcelona airport floods after red alert as flights cancelled
