Else Beekman
A powerful DANA (Isolated Depression at High Altitude) has swept through Mallorca, bringing severe rainfall, flooding, and widespread disruption. Porto Cristo bore the brunt of the storm, with torrents overflowing and floodwaters sweeping cars from roads and parking areas.
Local authorities have reported numerous rescues and extensive damage, as heavy rains and unstable conditions continue to impact much of the Mediterranean coast.
#ÚLTIMAHORA #URGENT Atenció als veïnats de Porto Cristo, a Manacor:@Emergencies_112 alerta que es preveu un màxim de crescuda a la desembocadura del torrent a partir de les 10.30h. MOLTA PRECAUCIÓ!! ℹ️ https://t.co/VmLD5Ri2r2
⬇️ Aquestes són imatges d’avui dematí ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/QlfcLn5pAr
— IB3 Notícies (@IB3noticies) October 28, 2024
Since the early hours of Monday, Mallorca has experienced a deluge, with rain accumulation reaching 120.7 litres per square metre in Ermita de Manacor. Heavy rains were also recorded in Campos and Petra, with over 100 litres per square metre. The Spanish Meteorological Agency (Aemet) warns that the storm is not over yet, as it continues to move towards Menorca.
Flooding and emergency response in Porto Cristo
In Porto Cristo, the torrential rain caused the local river to overflow, flooding streets and causing significant damage as parked vehicles were swept away. Manacor also suffered from the flash floods, with severe impacts in s’Estany de’n Mas and on multiple roads across the area. Local teams, including municipal workers and the police, are working to restore order, reposition vehicles, and clear the roads of debris once water levels recede.
Mallorca’s fire services have had their hands full, performing five rescues for individuals trapped by rising waters on flooded roads and isolated coves. Furthermore, the Consell de Mallorca has closed seven key roads due to flooding. Firefighters have also responded to 29 requests to pump water from flooded areas, with the worst affected zones being Calvià and the Campos-Manacor corridor. The island’s emergency services are fully deployed with five fire stations actively managing the crisis.
Widespread alerts across Spain as DANA moves east
The Aemet has activated alerts across seven Spanish regions, with orange and yellow warnings for high-risk areas. Major regions affected include the Valencian Community, Catalonia, Balearic Islands, and parts of Andalucia, where rain accumulations could reach up to 40-45 litres per square metre in a single hour. The province of Castellón in the Valencian Community and Tarragona in Catalonia face orange alerts, with forecasts warning of up to 100 litres per square metre over 12 hours.
Meanwhile, Andalucia’s Almería province is under an orange alert, with potential rainfall of 30 litres per square metre in an hour. Elsewhere, parts of Murcia, Aragón, and Castilla-La Mancha also remain on yellow alert for rainfall and rough seas.
Extended storm forecast until the end of the week
Aemet has indicated that the storm system could last through Thursday, possibly extending until Saturday. With Tuesday expected to bring the peak of the storm, communities along the Mediterranean coast, particularly in the Valencian Community and Murcia, are preparing for rainfall that could exceed 150 litres per square metre within 24 hours.