An intense storm hit Majorca’s international airport on Wednesday, leading to severe flooding on the runways and causing disruptions in flight operations. The heavy rainfall on the popular Spanish holiday island also resulted in water leaking from the ceiling of the airport’s shopping area and seeping through windows, as depicted in videos shared online.
The weather station at Palma airport reported a rapid accumulation of almost 5cm (2in) of rain per hour, with a peak of up to 9cm (3.5in) within an hour.
The situation was described as “chaotic” by witnesses, with passengers scrambling for cover from the downpour that penetrated the roof, according to reports from the Majorca Daily Bulletin.
Aena, the entity managing Palma de Mallorca Airport, verified that there were instances of flooding in certain entrances and within the terminal building.
Numerous flights experienced delays or cancellations
A statement from the airport read, “Operations at Palma de Mallorca Airport were temporarily halted due to the severe storm conditions, which made safe operations impossible.”
The airport, Spain’s third-largest, activated its emergency protocols, leading to temporary rerouting of flights to alternate airports, as confirmed by Transport Minister Oscar Puente.
The existing planes at the airport were unable to depart.
As the rainfall subsided, flight operations gradually resumed at the airport, Puente later announced.
Floods in Palma, Majorca
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An official statement from Aena confirmed that “Palma de Mallorca Airport has resumed its operations following the storm.
“The first flights have already taken off and landed, with the remainder of diverted flights expected to arrive at the Palma airport this afternoon.”
Flooding in Palma, Majorca
“Efforts are ongoing at the airport to restore operations to normal
“Passengers are advised to check with their respective airlines before heading to the airport.”
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Last year, the airport served a record-breaking number of over 31 million passengers.