The second day of intense weather brought by the Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos (DANA) has resulted in severe flooding and dramatic scenes across the island of Mallorca and Formentera.
The municipality of Sóller has been particularly hard hit, with the Spanish meteorological agency AEMET reporting a staggering 114 litres of rainfall per square metre over the last 24 hours. María José Guerrero, spokesperson for AEMET in the Balearic Islands, highlighted the intensity of the downpour in Sóller, noting that 68 litres of rain fell within just one hour, with 19 litres falling in a mere 10 minutes. “It’s a significant amount,” Guerrero emphasised, pointing to the severity of the situation.
As a result of the heavy rainfall, the Sa Figuera torrent, which runs through Sóller, has overflowed, leading to widespread flooding. Footage from the Port de Sóller shows the promenade resembling a river as the floodwaters surged towards the sea.
In response to the situation, the Guardia Civil has evacuated 10 people from their homes due to the flooding. The authorities have also issued warnings about the Sa Mola tunnel, which remains open but poses risks to drivers. The Roads Department of the Consell de Mallorca has urged motorists to exercise extreme caution if they must travel through the tunnel and to avoid unnecessary journeys altogether.
Fisherman survived and around 40 boats damaged on Formentera
A fisherman from Formentera has survived a harrowing ordeal after spending seven hours clinging to a piece of his boat, which was destroyed by the force of a sudden storm. The storm, part of the recent Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos (DANA), brought winds of up to 100 kilometres per hour, which tore his boat apart and left him stranded at sea.
Xicu Torres Mayans, the fisherman, had set out early in the morning for what was supposed to be a routine fishing trip. However, the weather took a dramatic turn for the worse, and his boat was shattered by the fierce winds. “I didn’t think I would make it back to shore alive,” Torres Mayans recounted after his eventual rescue.
The DANA has left a trail of destruction across Formentera. Aerial images reveal sailboats stranded along the coast, damaged rooftops of restaurants, and fallen trees, all pushed over by the hurricane-force winds. It’s estimated that around 40 boats have been severely damaged along the coast, with the most serious incident occurring in Cala Saona, where nine Italian tourists had to be rescued by Formentera firefighters after their sailboat crashed into the rocks. Two of the tourists sustained serious injuries. Among the injured, a man suffered a traumatic hand injury resulting in the amputation of a finger, while a woman sustained a severe leg injury. The remaining seven individuals had minor injuries or bruises, according to the Pitiusas Health Area.
Severe weather causes chaos at airport
The heavy weather has also caused significant disruptions at Palma de Mallorca Airport, leading to widespread delays and cancellations. The intense electrical storms over the Balearic Islands have halted all flights from Menorca, with delays reaching up to three hours. Several incoming flights from Barcelona, Düsseldorf, Nantes, and Lyon have been diverted to alternative airports.
Ryanair has been particularly affected, cancelling 13 flights by early afternoon, with other airlines like Eurowings and easyJet also facing cancellations. The ongoing bad weather across Europe has further complicated air traffic, leading to continued delays. The Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has issued a red alert for northern and northeastern Mallorca, urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel due to the hazardous conditions.
On Wednesday, the airport already experienced severe disruptions due to the DANA, including the temporary closure of airspace for an hour, resulting in the cancellation of over 40 flights. The situation remains critical, with 940 flight operations scheduled for Thursday under challenging conditions.
Also read: DANA brings heavy rains, storms, and rough seas to 10 Spanish regions