Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Barcelona airport issues travel update after 100 flights were scrapped due to airport flooding and storms

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Barcelona’s international airport has issued a travel update after 100 flights were cancelled due to flooding and storms yesterday.

There was travel misery for thousands on Monday when 150mm of rainwater accumulated at Josep Terradellas El Prat in just four hours.

Torrential rain also sparked a red alert warning across the Spanish city – just days after more than 200 were killed in devastating floods in Valencia.

But today, Spanish airport operator Aena issued an update to reassure passengers that the situation is s ‘normalised’ at the terminal, with the airfield fully operational.

Footage and images shared to social media showed the moment travel was disrupted for British holidaymakers on Monday when floods struck the airport. 

One video showed the moment a man took off his shoes and waded through a pool of water in the departures hall at El Prat airport, while another clip captured the moment water poured from the ceiling.

Today Spanish operator Aena confirmed via social platform X that the Josep Terradellas El Prat airport is running normally again, with the airfield fully operational

It comes after 100 flights were cancelled yesterday following flooding

It comes after 100 flights were cancelled yesterday following flooding 

An easyJet spokesperson said passengers are also advised to allow plenty of time to get to the airport due to a number of motorways and roads across Barcelona being flooded as well as cancelled train services. 

They told MailOnline: ‘While our flying programme at Barcelona is currently operating, due to adverse weather conditions in the area we are advising customers to check local travel advice, leave plenty of time to get to the airport and check our flight tracker for the most up to date information on their flights.

‘The safety and wellbeing of customers and crew is easyJet’s highest priority and while this is outside of our control, we are sorry for any inconvenience caused by the weather.’

The UK Foreign Office said on its website: ‘Severe weather and flooding is affecting many areas of Southern and Eastern Spain, particularly the Valencia region and Castilla La Mancha. Journeys may be affected.

Passengers wait at El Prat Airport after several flights were cancelled due to heavy rains, in Barcelona, Catalonia

Passengers wait at El Prat Airport after several flights were cancelled due to heavy rains, in Barcelona, Catalonia

Torrential rain has deluged parts of Spain over the past week, causing devastating floods in Valencia which have left more than 200 people dead. 

The seemingly relentless showers are caused by Dana – a high-altitude isolated depression which builds up huge, water-laden clouds that can stay over the same area for many hours.

The record-breaking rainfall over the past week came after an almost two-year drought, meaning that when the deluge happened, the ground was so hard it could not absorb the rain.

The unusually high temperature of the Mediterranean has also increased the risk of flooding.

Experts say that drought and flood cycles are increasing with climate change.

As well as Valencia, the worst-hit area, the floods have now affected parts of Catalonia, Castilla-La Mancha, Murcia, Andalusia, and the Balearic Islands.

Authorities in Valencia said on Sunday that hopes of finding more survivors are fading days after the most intense rainfall on October 29 triggered catastrophic floods.

Torrents of water wrecked homes and vehicles, leaving locals stranded without power and vital supplies.

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