Latest news with #DiariodeMallorca
Scottish Sun
10-07-2025
- Climate
- Scottish Sun
Majorca STORM warning as torrential rain batters Brit holiday island sparking travel chaos – while UK basks in 33C sun
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BRITS hoping for sun-soaked beach days in Majorca have been met with storm warnings and flooded airports instead - while back home the UK is basking in scorching summer heat. Holidaymakers jetting off to the Balearic islands were warned to check their flight status after a freak torrential storm slammed into the Majorca and Menorca. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Majorca was hit by a freak torrential thunderstorm Credit: 6 Flights were delayed and sections of the airport sealed off due to roof leaks Credit: Diario de Mallorca 6 Footage showed knee-deep water flooding airport hallways after the deluge Credit: 6 Staff scrambling to place buckets and barriers as puddles filled passenger corridors Credit: Thursday's deluge — between 20 and 25 litres per square metre in just 30 minutes — caught many by surprise. Cracked clouds rolled over the island from the northwest, with thunder, lightning and torrential rain tearing through early morning skies, Aemet meteorologist Miquel Gili told Cronica Balear. A cold drop is expected to arrive by Saturday, potentially bringing more showers and thunderstorms to northern Majorca and Menorca, Aemet has warned. The Spanish weather agency also shared a graphic showing the several lightning strikes across mainland Spain and into the Balearics. But by Sunday, some stabilisation is forecast. Despite the stormy skies, temperatures are still hovering near 32°C in Majorca. But with the airport drenched and delays piling up, it's hardly the sunny escape many were dreaming of. Back in blissfully storm-free Britain, the picture couldn't be more different. London and the South East woke to wall-to-wall sunshine and soaring temperatures, with the mercury hitting 30°C today and heading for 33°C this weekend, according to the Met Office. The weekend will bring more of the same – hot, dry days and warm nights, with only a slight cool-down by Monday. Emergency alarm raised at Majorca airport after roof collapses Travel chaos The showers have since caused chaos at Palma Airport and dramatic scenes across popular tourist spots like Alcúdia, Sóller and Playa de Palma. Footage shared online shows water pouring through the ceilings of Palma airport's terminals, with knee-deep brown water flooding several hallways. Staff were also seen scrambling to place buckets and barriers as puddles filled passenger corridors. According to Diario de Mallorca, the leaks sparked fresh fears just days after a skylight collapsed, injuring no one but leaving debris scattered near vending machines. 'If a passenger had stood under the collapsed skylight, it would have been a disaster,' one shaken traveller told the outlet. Air traffic was heavily disrupted in the hols hotspot as storms made take-offs and landings risky. Air traffic controllers posted on X: 'Very significant delays today at Palma Airport due to the forecast of storms affecting approach and landings.' To avoid danger, flights were held at ground level until Eurocontrol allowed movement, and others were forced to divert. Air traffic authorities said: 'Our job is to facilitate these diversions while ensuring separation between aircraft. 'Once the arriving crews confirm that they are free of storms, we guide them and sequence them for the approach and landing in Palma.' Meanwhile, sections of the airport were sealed off due to roof leaks. 'It's a truly regrettable situation,' said Balearic Government spokesman Antoni Costa. He called out 'serious deficiencies' at the island's busiest airport and warning that recent failures could have had disastrous consequences. 6 The Aemet shared a graphic showing the several lightning strikes across mainland Spain and into the Balearics Credit:
Local Spain
07-07-2025
- Local Spain
'Germans out': Anti-foreigner graffiti stirs tensions in Mallorca
Anti-foreigner graffiti and stickers have appeared on several businesses and vehicles in the southern Santanyí area of Mallorca, calling them to leave the area and telling foreigner property buyers to "go to hell". The messages, written in German, were directed at Santanyí's large German population, and though somewhat of an isolated incident the events reflect growing animosity towards tourism and wealthy foreign residents on the island. Phrases such as 'Germans out' were spray-painted in red on shop windows, doors and cars with foreign number plates, especially German registrations. This comes amid growing anti-tourism sentiment in Spain. Protests were held across the country last year and a second wave of protests has already started this summer. Local media reports that the perpetrators wrote the German word 'Raus' (Out) and stickers with the same messages were also placed on vehicles and shop fronts run by foreign residents. Other spray-painted messages included: 'Deutsche raus' (Germans out) and 'Ausländische Käufer fahrt zur Hölle' ('Foreign buyers, go to hell') presumably in reference to foreigners buying property in the town. Protestors argue that overtourism is ruining residential property markets, pricing local people out of their own neighbourhoods and killing local culture and identity. Critics suggest that tourism forms a huge part of the Spanish economy and that some of the anti-tourism protests have veered into anti-foreigner and even xenophobic rhetoric. One demonstration in Barcelona last summer gained international headlines when protests sprayed tourists sitting on terraces with water pistols. Municipal sources told the Diario de Mallorca that local police first detected the graffiti in the early hours of Friday morning. A search was carried out in the area to try to locate the culprits, without success, before the Guardia Civil was informed. The local council has strongly condemned the graffiti and insists that 'they do not represent the feelings of the majority of the public, nor is it believed that those responsible are residents of the municipality.' One of those affected was reportedly German artist Frank Krüger, who told the German-language Mallorca Zeitung newspaper that 'this was a planned and coordinated action, not the work of a single person.' 'To be honest, it scares me,' Krüger added, saying that he could understand the concerns of many local residents about the island's tourism model, but insisted that 'this has gone too far.' Interestingly, on a political level only the far-right Vox party, often more sceptical of high numbers of foreigners in the country, have come out to criticise the graffiti and defend tourism. Jorge Pérez, Vox councillor in Santanyí, said in a press statement that 'in recent days, our municipality has been the scene of deeply worrying events, as offensive graffiti and stickers with anti-German messages have appeared on vehicles and businesses, affecting foreign residents who have been contributing positively to our community for years. At Vox, we defend all those who pay taxes on our islands, respect our rules and form an active part of the social fabric of Santanyí.' 'Under the excuse of criticising the tourism model, a campaign of targeting and harassment has been launched against citizens who are fully integrated, in a clear display of ideological intolerance and political sectarianism,' he added. Though the specific anti-German graffiti seems like a new development, residents in Mallorca had previously taken direct action against foreign property owners oft he island by defacing an iconic Osborne bull billboard with a message reading 'Rich Foreign Property Buyers Go to Hell' earlier in the year. In April, the slogan 'Inländer raus! Palma den Deutschen' (Locals out! Palma for the Germans) appeared on the door of a house on the island. It remains unclear who the perpetrator was and if the message was meant ironically or serious in intention. According to the latest data from Spain's national stats body, INE, almost 19,000 Germans are registered as living on the Balearic Islands, with many more thousands likely to be living their part of the year. — Diario de Mallorca (@diariomallorca) July 6, 2025
Metro
24-06-2025
- Metro
Roof collapses at popular British holiday hotspot airport
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Holidaymakers cheated death this afternoon after a roof collapsed at Majorca's Palma Airport. Glass and other construction debris crashed to the floor of the arrivals lounge at around 4.30pm local time. Airport workers said afterwards it was a 'miracle' no-one had been seriously injured. An investigation into the near miss was underway this evening. Spanish airports authority AENA blamed the collapse on debris from construction work falling onto a glass roof near the entrance to the baggage claim area and bringing it down. A spokesman told local press: 'People in charge of the airport are already analysing what happened in order to adopt the appropriate measures and to determine responsibilities if necessary.' Airport security staff cleared the affected area as holidaymakers watched on from nearby, clearly shocked at the damage that had been done and the fact the collapse could have had fatal consequences. One English-speaking woman could be overheard saying 'Oh my God' as a cloud of dust rose from the ground where part of the roof had fallen. Local Juan Antonio Bauza dubbed Palma Airport 'the worst in Spain' in a social media post this evening. The sports reporter said on X: 'I imagine someone will have to assume responsibility for this.' Renovation works at the airport have been criticised by workers and air passengers. More Trending In January, a falling panel and weather conditions led to dust entering the terminal and complaints. One airport worker told local press at the time: 'Neither employees or passengers could breathe and many people were slipping because of the dust on the ground. 'Having to work in these sorts of conditions is disgraceful.' Another told Majorcan paper Diario de Mallorca: 'Passengers had to put masks on because of the air contamination.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Church wardens resign over 'botched' restoration of Virgin Mary statue MORE: Spain EasyJet strikes could see 40 flights cancelled per day — what to do if your holiday's affected MORE: 'Breathtaking' Spanish city with quiet beaches gets new £31 flights from UK
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Multiple bodies found with hands, feet tied in Mediterranean Sea
Spanish authorities have launched an investigation after discovering multiple corpses in the Mediterranean Sea whose hands and feet had been tied, police said on Monday. According to regional daily Diario de Mallorca, since mid-May Civil Guard boats have spotted at least five bodies with their feet and hands bound. Police suspect that the victims may be migrants from North Africa, the Majorca Daily Bulletin reported. Diario de Mallorca quoted investigators as saying that the migrants may have been tied up and thrown into the sea during the crossing, potentially due to a dispute with their smugglers. The investigation into suspected homicide aims to identify the victims and work out the causes of their death, a Civil Guard spokeswoman told AFP. The discovery shows "the cruelest side" of the irregular migration route, regional president Marga Prohens told local media. Although most of the tens of thousands of Europe-bound migrants Spain receives arrive via the Canary Islands in the Atlantic, hundreds attempt the shorter crossing from north Africa to the Balearic archipelago in the Mediterranean. Authorities said 31 bodies had been found in the waters and beaches of the archipelago between January and June of this year, the Majorca Daily Bulletin reported earlier this month. In 2023, the United Nation's International Organization for Migration recorded 8,542 migrant deaths around the world – with 37% of these deaths occurring in the Mediterranean. There have also been dramatic rescues in the region. Earlier this month, a charity ship rescued more than 50 migrants from an abandoned oil platform in the Mediterranean, where one woman gave birth, according to the Spain-based NGO Open Arms. And in January, the Spanish coastguard rescued a baby that was born on an inflatable vessel carrying migrants to the Canary Islands. Kidney dialysis industry accused of maximizing profits over patients Pentagon officials reveal new details about U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear sites Extended interview: LQ Goldring on her quest for a kidney donor
Daily Mirror
23-06-2025
- Daily Mirror
UK favourite tourist hotspot dubbed ‘cemetery' in latest grim body find
Six bodies have been found washed up or floating in stunning holiday destinations which are adored by Brits. The gruesome discoveries have prompted a warning from locals and officials British holidaymakers planning to jet off to Spain have been warned that many of the beautiful islands are turning into "cemeteries". It comes after at least five bodies were spotted floating in the Balearic Islands, with their hands and feet shackled. Now, tourists have been told that the gruesome finds could become more common in Majorca, Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera. Over the past six weeks, six corpses were found washed up in the sand in front of shocked locals. On Saturday, a human foot was spotted on a beach in Can Pastilla, Majorca, making it the tenth harrowing discovery at the destination this year. Majorca horror as bodies with shackled hands and feet found at tourist hotspot The day before, parts of a female body were found decayed and drifting close to Can Pastilla. The Civil Guard believe that the human remains belong to migrants who have tried to reach Spain via a dangerous crossing from Algeria. The sixth body, which appeared to be a male, was found this week on the beach of Cala Mesquida in Capdepera. The body is said to have come from a vessel carrying 27 Somali nationals that vanished after departing Algeria on February 2. Another decomposed body was located on a beach in Playa de Palma, the same day. With hundreds of migrants having already arrived in boats across Spain in winter, Brits have been told the situation could escalate in the summer due to calmer waters. Officials compared the islands to a "graveyard" as they commented on the increasing number of bodies. "The Balearic Islands are a cemetery," reports Spanish newspaper, Diario de Mallorca. It has been reported that locals have urged tourism bosses to address the situation by displaying images of corpses instead of the picturesque beaches. Stunning locations, including Can Pastilla (Palma), Cala Deia, Llevant beach in Formentera and Son Moli in Cala Rajada, have been the sites of several body recoveries in the last two weeks.
