Latest news with #PenedèsRegionalHospital
Time Out
a day ago
- Climate
- Time Out
Is it safe to travel to Spain? Latest advice after floods and an earthquake hit holiday hotspots
A severe storm hit half of Spain over the weekend, causing catastrophic rainfall, severe winds and floods. Two people have been reported missing in Catalonia and a hospital was evacuated just southwest of Barcelona. And on Monday, just hours after the torrential downpour, a 5.4-magnitude earthquake struck southern Spain, causing damage in popular holiday hotspots Costa del Sol and Almería. Understandably, those with holidays booked might be worried about whether it's safe to travel. Here's everything you need to know about visiting Spain right now, and whether you are entitled to a refund if you cancel your trip. Where is the flooding in Spain? Severe storm warnings were announced by the Spanish weather agency, AEMET, across Huesca, Teruel, Zaragoza, Navarra and Castellón, along with Catalonian cities Barcelona, Girona, Lleida and Tarragona. Barcelona was drastically affected with 155mm of rainfall on Saturday, leading to the evacuation of 71 patients at Penedès Regional Hospital, just southwest of the city. Navarra was also affected with 97mm of rain. Where did the earthquake hit in Spain? Hours after the severe floods, Spain's National Geographic Institute (IGN) recorded the 5.4 earthquake early Monday morning on the Almería coast in southern Spain. The quake was felt in hundreds of towns and villages. Granada, Malaga, Jaen, Murcia, Alicante, Costa del Sol and Albacete in the east were hit the hardest, but tremors were also felt in Levante and Cabo de Gata, the largest protected coastal area in Andalusia. An airport roof collapsed in Almería, but luckily, there were no injuries. Is it safe to travel? Though weather warnings have been lifted and the storms have eased, many regions are still dealing with the damage caused by the flooding. There have been no international warnings that mention it's unsafe to travel to Spain, so while it's safe to travel, it's best to check the status of the area you plan to visit. Spain's State Meteorological Agency now warns of severe high temperatures across the country, especially inland areas like Madrid, Cordoba and Merida. What's the latest advice from the FCDO? As of now, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has not advised against travel to Spain, but it's always best to stay prepared by keeping track of local news and weather services in the areas you plan to visit. Can I get a refund if I cancel my trip? As there has been no official warning against travel to Spain, you won't automatically be entitled to a refund if you change your travel plans. If in doubt, it's best to contact your airline and travel providers to see what can be done. Extreme weather across Europe This summer, several European destinations have been impacted by extreme weather. Destinations including Spain, Croatia and Italy experienced severe heatwaves at the start of the month, while thousands of people were evacuated from İzmir in Türkiye thanks to wildfires.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Hospital evacuated as half of Spain hit by heavy rain
Dozens of patients were forced to evacuate a hospital in Spain as the country was battered by heavy rain and flooding. At least 71 people fled Penedès Regional Hospital, south west of Barcelona, as streets across Catalonia turned to rivers following flash floods on Saturday, according to Spanish media. More than half of Spain's 50 provinces were under weather warnings over the weekend as torrential rain brought chaos to streets, businesses and holiday plans. Spain's weather forecaster AEMET issued severe storm warnings for Huesca, Teruel and Zaragoza, Barcelona, Girona, Lleida and Tarragona, and Castellón. Health minister Olga Pané told Catalan News: 'We have decided to evacuate and transfer the 71 patients to the hospitals of Sant Camil, Bellvitge, Igualada, Sant Boi, and Viladecans.' Ms Pané said the hospital's electricity supply was cut off after a wall collapsed during the torrential downpour. In Cubelles, a town 30 miles from Barcelona, a witness claimed to have seen a woman and child swept away by floodwater after they fell into the swollen Foix river. Firefighters rushed to searched the river overnight, with underwater units, helicopters and drone teams scouring the area. At least 155mm of rain fell in Barcelona on Saturday in just two or three hours, according to AEMET. In Navarra, 97mm of rainfall was recorded. Heavy rain was also recorded in Zaragoza and Girona. Footage showed vehicles trapped under murky water, with some vehicles swept away by rivers flowing down streets. One video captured cars drifting along the swollen El Cardener river after it burst its banks, while others were seen completely submerged. Spain's Military Emergency Unit (UME), a branch of the army responsible for disaster relief, was also deployed to Zaragoza to assist with emergency response efforts. Rosa Montserrat Fonoll, mayor of Cubelles, said: 'I've never seen anything like this in Cubelles'. She added that 200 cubic meters per second flowed through the town. Ms Fonoll said 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. The storm was caused by a DANA (High-level Isolated Depression). They can cause sudden shifts in weather, bringing intense rainfall and storms within minutes. Last year, a similar weather event caused devastating floods in Valencia, leading to the death of 227 people.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Hospital evacuated as half of Spain hit by heavy rain
Dozens of patients were forced to evacuate a hospital in Spain as the country was battered by heavy rain and flooding. At least 71 people fled Penedès Regional Hospital, south west of Barcelona, as streets across Catalonia turned to rivers following flash floods on Saturday, according to Spanish media. More than half of Spain's 50 provinces were under weather warnings over the weekend as torrential rain brought chaos to streets, businesses and holiday plans. Spain's weather forecaster AEMET issued severe storm warnings for Huesca, Teruel and Zaragoza, Barcelona, Girona, Lleida and Tarragona, and Castellón. Health minister Olga Pané told Catalan News: 'We have decided to evacuate and transfer the 71 patients to the hospitals of Sant Camil, Bellvitge, Igualada, Sant Boi, and Viladecans.' Ms Pané said the hospital's electricity supply was cut off after a wall collapsed during the torrential downpour. In Cubelles, a town 30 miles from Barcelona, a witness claimed to have seen a woman and child swept away by floodwater after they fell into the swollen Foix river. Firefighters rushed to searched the river overnight, with underwater units, helicopters and drone teams scouring the area. At least 155mm of rain fell in Barcelona on Saturday in just two or three hours, according to AEMET. In Navarra, 97mm of rainfall was recorded. Heavy rain was also recorded in Zaragoza and Girona. Footage showed vehicles trapped under murky water, with some vehicles swept away by rivers flowing down streets. One video captured cars drifting along the swollen El Cardener river after it burst its banks, while others were seen completely submerged. Spain's Military Emergency Unit (UME), a branch of the army responsible for disaster relief, was also deployed to Zaragoza to assist with emergency response efforts. Rosa Montserrat Fonoll, mayor of Cubelles, said: 'I've never seen anything like this in Cubelles'. She added that 200 cubic meters per second flowed through the town. Ms Fonoll said 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. The storm was caused by a DANA (High-level Isolated Depression). They can cause sudden shifts in weather, bringing intense rainfall and storms within minutes. Last year, a similar weather event caused devastating floods in Valencia, leading to the death of 227 people.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Climate
- The Independent
Hospital evacuated as half of Spain hit by heavy rain
Dozens of patients were forced to evacuate a hospital in Spain as the country was battered by heavy rain and flooding. At least 71 people fled Penedès Regional Hospital, south west of Barcelona, as streets across Catalonia turned to rivers following flash floods on Saturday, according to Spanish media. More than half of Spain's 50 provinces were under weather warnings over the weekend as torrential rain brought chaos to streets, businesses and holiday plans. Spain's weather forecaster AEMET issued severe storm warnings for Huesca, Teruel and Zaragoza, Barcelona, Girona, Lleida and Tarragona, and Castellón. Health minister Olga Pané told Catalan News: 'We have decided to evacuate and transfer the 71 patients to the hospitals of Sant Camil, Bellvitge, Igualada, Sant Boi, and Viladecans.' Ms Pané said the hospital's electricity supply was cut off after a wall collapsed during the torrential downpour. In Cubelles, a town 30 miles from Barcelona, a witness claimed to have seen a woman and child swept away by floodwater after they fell into the swollen Foix river. Firefighters rushed to searched the river overnight, with underwater units, helicopters and drone teams scouring the area. At least 155mm of rain fell in Barcelona on Saturday in just two or three hours, according to AEMET. In Navarra, 97mm of rainfall was recorded. Heavy rain was also recorded in Zaragoza and Girona. Footage showed vehicles trapped under murky water, with some vehicles swept away by rivers flowing down streets. One video captured cars drifting along the swollen El Cardener river after it burst its banks, while others were seen completely submerged. Spain's Military Emergency Unit (UME), a branch of the army responsible for disaster relief, was also deployed to Zaragoza to assist with emergency response efforts. Rosa Montserrat Fonoll, mayor of Cubelles, said: 'I've never seen anything like this in Cubelles'. She added that 200 cubic meters per second flowed through the town. Ms Fonoll said 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. The storm was caused by a DANA (High-level Isolated Depression). They can cause sudden shifts in weather, bringing intense rainfall and storms within minutes. Last year, a similar weather event caused devastating floods in Valencia, leading to the death of 227 people.
Telegraph
4 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.
