Spain floods latest: Barcelona put on highest alert as airport flooded and 70 flights cancelled
Latest alert comes as British couple found dead – with total killed by devastating storms across country at more than 200
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Your support makes all the difference.Barcelona is facing a red alert warning for dangerous torrential train, with part of the city, including the airport, beginning to flood.
Fatalities from Spain’s worst flash floods in modern history rose to 217 almost all of them in the Valencia region and more than 60 in the suburb of Paiporta. Hundreds are still missing
The deadly storm that swept through Barcelona led to the suspension of 70 departing flights and the diversion of another 18 at Barcelona-El Prat Airport, according to operator Aena.
The heavy rainfall has also caused flooding in key areas, including the T-1 terminal and parking facilities.
Footage from the city showed the runway completely submerged as one plane aborted a landing and the few planes left on the tarmac were forced to sludge through several inches of flood water.
Meanwhile, in Valencia, the search continued for bodies inside houses and thousands of wrecked cars strewn in the streets, on highways, and in canals that channeled last week's floods into populated areas.
In the Aldaia municipality, some 50 soldiers, police and firefighters, some wearing wetsuits, searched in a huge shopping center's underground parking lot for possible victims. They used a small boat and spotlights to move around in the huge structure with vehicles submerged in at least a meter of murky water.
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Spain's minister: 15 flights due landing in Barcelona diverted amid rainstorm
Spain‘s transport minister Oscar Puente said airport operator Aena diverted 15 flights that were due to land in Barcelona El Prat airport on Monday morning because of a rainstorm hitting the area.
Trains in Catalonia suspended due to weather warnings
Trains in Catalonia have been suspended due to weather issues, the Spanish transport minister has reported.
Oscar Puente, Spanish transport minister, wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “IMPORTANT NOTICE!!!
“At the request of Civil Protection, we are suspending all Rodalies Cataluña services until further notice.”
Spain deploys 7,500 troops to flood zone where anger rises at slow help
Spain is deploying 7,500 troops to its eastern region hit by devastating floods, the government said on Monday in the face of rising discontent over the response to the catastrophe that has killed at least 217 people.
The army sent about 5,000 soldiers over the weekend to help distribute food and water, clean up streets and protect shops and properties from looters. A further 2,500 would join them, Defence Minister Margarita Robles told state-owned radio RNE.
A warship carrying 104 marine infantry soldiers as well as trucks with food and water was approaching Valencia port even as a strong hailstorm pummelled Barcelona some 300 km (186 miles) to the north.
Rescue teams on Monday were searching for bodies in underground garages including a 5,000-car park at Bonaire shopping mall near Valencia airport as well as river mouths where currents may have deposited bodies.
Fatalities from Spain's worst flash floods in modern history edged higher to 217 on Sunday - almost all of them in the Valencia region and more than 60 in the suburb of Paiporta.
Local residents' anger was focused on late alerts from authorities about the dangers of flooding and a perceived delayed response by emergency services.
UPD: ‘Cold drop’ and flood defences: What caused the devastating flash flooding in Spain?
What caused the devastating flash flooding in Spain?
Spain’s meteorological agency, said Valencia had seen ‘the most adverse cold drop of the century’ prior to this week’s floods
Brit couple killed in Spanish floods had ‘popped out’ for gas
The British couple who were killed during the flash floods in Spain had “popped out” to get some gas before becoming trapped.
Terry, 78, and Don Turner, 74, from Staffordshire, had not been seen since Tuesday. Their bodies were discovered on Saturday and identified the following day.
In an interview with the BBC on Friday, the couple’s daughter Ruth O’Loughlin said her mother had told her friends they were “popping out” to get some gas - but they were not heard from afterwards.
The daughter added: “Friends had nipped up there because they hadn’t heard from mum and dad, the key was in the door, they could get into the property, the dogs were there and the car’s gone so they know that mum and dad haven’t gone back.”
Picture shows British couple, found dead in southern Spain
In pictures: Emergency services continue the search for flood victims
Video: Flash floods drag cars away in Spain as roads turn into rivers
British couple confirmed dead in floods - report
A British couple who went missing after flash flooding hit their hometown outside Valencia have been confirmed dead.
Terry and Don Turner, from Staffordshire, had not been seen since Tuesday, when heavy downpours flooded their hometown of Pedralba, a 45-minute drive northwest of the east coast city of Valencia.
The couple’s daughter, Ruth O’Loughlin, confirmed to the BBC that her parents’ bodies were found in their car on Saturday. Their nationality has only just been confirmed.
More than 200 people have been killed as a result of the flooding. At least three Brits, including the couple, are among the dead.
Crashing waves in a hilltop village, a night of terror from Spain's floods
Crashing waves in a hilltop village, a night of terror from Spain's floods
Irene Cuevas says she has the roar of the waves produced by a flash flood burned into her memory
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