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Date Published: 20/10/2023

Floods, diverted flights and railway stoppages: Storm Aline causes carnage across Spain

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Madrid and Andalucia bore the brunt of the torrential rain and gales that swept across the country

Floods, diverted flights and railway stoppages: Storm Aline causes carnage across Spain

What the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) tipped to be the “first high-impact” squall of the season has certainly lived up to its reputation as Storm Aline caused torrential downpours in every corner of Spain on Thursday October 19.

Thousands of incidents were recorded up and down the country but without a doubt the worst hit regions were the Spanish capital of Madrid and Andalucia in the south east.

Madrid recorded 100 litres of water per square meter in 24 hours – the largest accumulation of rain in a single day for at least a century. The torrent resulted in an absolute collapse of the public transport system: the high-speed train between the capital and Barcelona was cancelled outright due to damage to the tracks and several Metro and Cercanías lines were shut down.

There were incredible scenes in the Banco de España underground station, as gallons of water gushing down from above created a waterfall on the stairs and several train carriages were flooded in the deluge.

The situation was little better in Andalucia, where the emergency services responded to an incredible 1,750 incidents between Thursday and Friday morning. Crosswinds and gusts of up to 50 knots battered the runway at Malaga Airport and over the course of two hours, 37 flights bound for the Costa del Sol had to be diverted to different parts of Spain.

The alternative destinations included Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Granada, Almeria, Alicante and Jerez.

However, the carnage was spread throughout the community. In Seville, wind gusts exceeding 90 kilometres per hour felled trees across main roads and in Córdoba, a driver needed medical attention after a branch fell on him. The strong winds also caused a breakdown in the electrification system of the high-speed line between Seville and Córdoba, so the service had to be interrupted between the Córdoba towns of Montoro and Villa del Río.

Six passengers and the driver of a bus were injured on Thursday after the vehicle slammed into a wall due to flooding on the road in Malaga capital and in Jaen, police were forced to shut down the San Lucas Fair due to the treacherous conditions.

Storm Aline will begin to make her exit on Friday October 20 after a short-lived but brutal 24 hours. As the weather front moves towards inland Europe the rain and wind will tend to subside but temperatures will plummet across the country.

In any case, almost all of Spain will maintain at least a yellow alert for rain and red warnings for dangerous sea conditions have been issued in Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque Country.

Also of interest: Fierce winds fell trees and cause damage in Murcia

Images: Emergencias 112

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