Flights have been cancelled and diverted from Barcelona Airport as torrential rain leads to flash floods in the city.
Images shared online show a runway hit by flash floods, and authorities have now issued a red weather alert instructing people not to travel unless “strictly necessary.”
Live departure boards at El-Prat airport show numerous flights being cancelled – more than 150, according to local news outlet Beteve.
Meanwhile, many of the flights that have not yet been cancelled are severely delayed.
Aena, the company that manages El-Prat, said in a statement earlier today: “The Airport has set up its Crisis Committee to constantly monitor the impact of strong storms. The operations of JT Barcelona El Prat Airport have been affected by the strong storms affecting the Barcelona coastline and, very severely, the Baix Llobregat region.
“So far, 17 arrival flights have been diverted to alternative airports, while around fifty departure flights have been cancelled by airlines or are experiencing considerable delays. The Airport has set up its Crisis Committee to constantly monitor the impact of the strong storms, which are also affecting some areas of the terminals where some water has entered, mainly in the public area of Terminal 1 and in the car park.
“The storms are also affecting some accesses to the Airport. To facilitate the mobility of vehicles, barriers have been opened in those parking areas that require alternative exits. The Rodalies and Metro services to access the Airport have been suspended by their respective operators. Departing passengers are being channelled so that they can access alternative means of transport.”
Speaking to the Mirror, one passenger stuck at El-Prat airport said: “[I am] currently stuck at the airport terminal, flight was scheduled for 13:40 with arrival at 15:10 and is now showing as 19:10 departure with 20:40 arrival.”
The chaos in Barcelona comes after southeastern Spain was ravaged by severe flooding last week.
The areas around the city of Valencia have been impacted especially hard, with cars overturned and numerous people still missing.
At least 214 people have died at the time of writing.
With Barcelona bracing for yet more extreme weather, authorities have sent mobile alert warnings to people in the city.
It warns those in the city that “extreme and continued rainfall” is expected in the southern outskirts of the city.
Renfe, a train operator, has suspended its services in the south of the region of Catalonia.
Tarragona, a city in Catalonia, has suspended school, university and sports activities.
