Storm Adam Put Water in Ibiza’s Airport, and More Rain Is Coming

Storm Adam flooded parts of Spain’s Balearic Islands on Sunday, October 18, disrupting air travel at two of the country’s busiest holiday airports. Figures from Europa Press, as reported by Euro Weekly News, show Ibiza and Palma airports together recorded 64 cancellations and 16 diversions. Ibiza Airport suspended operations twice, from 10:00 to 11:00 and again from 11:15 to 12:15, after water entered parts of the terminal, including check-in, and affected access routes. Operations have resumed, but knock-on delays are likely as airlines work through cancelled and diverted services.

On the mainland the picture is more serious. The Valencian Community is on red alert for further heavy rain, with totals of 600 to 700 litres per square metre in 24 hours recorded in parts of the Safor and Marina Alta areas. One station at Forna recorded 702mm by 7:35 a.m. Monday. Authorities in the worst-hit areas are urging residents to stay home and avoid unnecessary journeys, the Military Emergency Unit has been deployed, and two campsites were evacuated.

Elsewhere the alerts are easing but not gone. Spain’s weather agency AEMET downgraded Mallorca’s red rain warning to orange early Monday, with a further cut to yellow expected around midday, though up to 50mm in an hour is still possible locally. The Balearic government closed schools across Mallorca, Ibiza and Formentera as a precaution. Malaga province is under a yellow warning for rain, thunderstorms and possible hail, though no airport disruption there had been reported.

Travelers heading to the region should check flight status with their airline and Aena’s live information before leaving for the airport, especially with connections, and allow extra time if local roads are affected. Officials advise against assuming that roads are passable or that local transport is running normally in flood-affected areas, and they ask people to avoid rivers, ravines and underground car parks. In an emergency in Spain, the number to call is 112.

Sources: Euro Weekly News, Russian Tourism News