Is it safe to travel to Spain and should I cancel my holiday?

Eastern Spain was struck with a devastating blow flash flood this week, the worst flooding the area has experienced in decades.

The downpours began on Tuesday (October 29) and continued until Wednesday. In the aftermath of the flood, cars piled up in the streets surrounded by a sea of ​​debris from destroyed buildings and structures.

At least 95 people lost their lives after flooding swept through the streets, turning sidewalks into rivers and trapping people in their homes and on top of their cars.

It is the worst flood disaster Spain has witnessed since at least 1996, when flash flooding near Biescas in the Pyrenees killed 87 people and injured 180.

Rain has hit the eastern region of Spain, hitting popular holiday destinations such as Valencia to Malaga.

Here you will find the latest information on the situation in Spain and what you need to know about traveling.

What happened?

Torrential rains, which in one region occurred in just eight hours for an entire year, hit cities such as Valencia and Málaga, causing severe flash flooding.

At least 95 people have been killed, and the death toll is likely to rise as the search for dozens of missing people continues. As search and rescue teams try to locate many missing people, more rain is expected to fall in some of the hardest-hit areas.

On Wednesday (October 31), 70 air evacuations and 200 ground rescues were carried out in Valencia, with Valencia’s regional leader Carlos Mazon also announcing he would launch a €250 million aid package as local authorities begin to try and clean up road damage once services are restored .

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Valencia would be declared a disaster zone after the deadly flash.

In a speech at the Emergency Services Coordination Center in Valencia, Pedro Sanchez also said that the official crisis level had been raised to level two.

What does it mean?

Travel may be disrupted in areas of Spain where stormy weather continues.

Aena, the Spanish airport group, he said on Thursday said that if you are planning to fly from Valencia airport, it is recommended to contact the airline to check the flight status and check road conditions from official sources, as some routes may be affected.

According to Aena, there were 30 diversions and 49 cancellations at Valencia airport on Wednesday, with the airline expected to provide accommodation to passengers who were unable to fly.

As of Thursday afternoon, there had been very few major disruptions to arrivals and departures from Valencia, with only one flight – British Airways to London According to FlightRadar24, the flight, which was scheduled to depart at 12:00 local time, has been canceled. Some arrivals and departures were delayed, with waiting times typically ranging from 30 minutes to about three hours.

There have been reports of adverse weather conditions at Jerez and Seville airports, so Aena recommended the same advice to check your flight status with your airline.

Government advice

As of October 31, the UK Foreign Office (FCDO) in its travel advice stated that travel may be affected by the severe weather and flooding that has hit many areas of southern and eastern Spain, particularly in the Valencia and Castile-La Mancha region.

FCDO recommends checking the latest weather warnings issued by the Spanish Meteorological Office before traveling and following the instructions of local authorities.

In terms of general Foreign Office advice on traveling to flood-affected areas, they warn that flood waters could cause destruction and loss of life. After the flood, they also warn that there is an increased risk waterhuman-borne diseases and transport infrastructure may be severely affected.

European Meteorological Services advises travel only if necessary to travel to the southern and northern coasts of Castellón, as well as to the northern part of Castellón.

“Extreme or catastrophic damage to people and property could occur, particularly for vulnerable people or those in vulnerable areas,” they wrote.

Is there more rain along the way?

The Spanish Meteorological Office has issued weather warnings Aemet on Thursday (October 31).

Although the weather began to calm down in Valencia on Thursday, Aemet said the weather agency had issued its highest alert level for Castellón province.

Red alerts of extreme risk have been issued for areas of Castellón where up to 180 mm is expected to accumulate within 12 hours, with some areas, such as the southern coast of Castellón, seeing up to 1:50 p.m. local time on Thursday 180 mm of rainfall has already accumulated by 1:50 p.m. local time.

Red warns warns: “Extreme danger! Do not travel in the area unless absolutely necessary!”

Valencia continues to face a yellow weather warning. On Thursday, 20 mm of rain is expected to fall in one hour.

The surrounding areas of Tarragona and Teruel are also under an orange and yellow alert.

The rain is also forecast to be accompanied by hail in the southern coastal parts of Castellón.

Prime Minister Sánchez said: “The Spanish weather agency continues to raise the alarm in Valencia and other parts of Spain. That’s why I urge everyone else to heed these recommendations and heed the advice of law enforcement and security agencies. We ask all affected people to stay at home.”

Can you cancel your booking and get a refund?

As the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not warned against non-essential travel to Spain, no special circumstances will apply to allow you to cancel your trip for a full refund.

Cancellation conditions will depend on the holiday provider, so if you wish to postpone your trip it is best to contact them.

Companies are under no obligation to refund your booking if you wish to cancel it, and for security reasons you will not be able to claim travel insurance unless advice from the Foreign Office changes.

When it comes to travel insurance, some policies include natural disaster protection in the event that an event occurs that prevents you from reaching your vacation destination. Check your insurance policies and talk to your insurer to find out where you stand.

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