by Mick the Ram

Following on from the devastating floods that hit Valencia last week and claimed the lives of at least 217 people, Barcelona and the entire Catalonia region is now on red alert for heavy flooding.

Storms closed in on the area and torrential rain has prompted authorities to suspend or divert flights from the city’s airport and cancel commuter rail services that cater for up to 8 million citizens.

This is in response to a request from civil protection officials who have reacted quickly after the angry protests in Valencia area, which saw Spain’s king and queen pelted with mud by the locals in the flood-hit town of Paiporta.

They were incensed at the perceived lack of warning and insufficient support from the authorities, after the country’s worst flooding disaster in generations.

Floodwaters had quickly caused bridges to collapse and enveloped towns in thick mud leaving communities cut off without access to food, water, electricity and basic services; rescuers are continuing to search for survivors – or sadly bodies – of those still reported missing.

Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sánchez, who himself has had objects thrown at him, has ordered 5,000 more troops and 5,000 police officers and civil guards to the region to give round-the-clock assistance.

Airport runway under water

With the terrible images of the events in Valencia still at the forefront of the Spanish population, Barcelona officials have reacted quickly, issuing a red alert warning of “extreme danger” after flooding occurred in key areas of the city, including the T-1 terminal and parking facilities.

Footage has showed the runway completely submerged causing one plane to abort a landing and 70 flights were suspended and a further 18 were diverted from El Prat Airport.

Serious high level warning delivered

Passengers have been restricted from certain areas of the facility while airport staff worked tirelessly to clear the water and restore normal operations.

Spain’s transport minister, Oscar Puente, suspended all commuter trains in north east Catalonia with a warning: “Do not travel unless strictly necessary”.

Emergency services in desperate search

Last weeks tragic floods have seen soldiers, firefighters and police searching through underground garages, car parks and tunnels in the hope of finding survivors, or recovering bodies.

Spain’s interior minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said they were still unable to give a reliable estimate of the missing.

Efforts were concentrated around a severely flooded underground car park of a huge shopping centre, where a small boat and spotlights were used to move around the many vehicles submerged, in at least a metre of murky water.

Poor decision

Almost all of the 217 confirmed deaths so far have been in the Valencia region and the small town of Paiporta reportedly suffered more than most, with at least 62 of its residents losing their lives.

An ill-advised royal visit prompted outrage and there were shouts of “murderer” and “shame on you” directed at King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, as the delegation, including PM Sánchez and the head of Valencian regional government, Carlos Mazón, walked through the town.

Shock for the royals

Bodyguards were quickly overwhelmed by protesters and struggled to maintain complete protection for the royal couple. Mud and other objects were hurled their way by an increasingly hostile crowd, and a swift evacuation was carried out.

To be fair to the monarch he tried to engage as much as he could, and later said he understood the “anger and frustration” of the protestors.

Juan Bordera, a member of the Valencian parliament, commented that the king’s visit was a “very bad decision”. He added: “Authorities didn’t listen to any warnings, so it is logical that the people are angry.”