Majorca goes into lockdown as British tourists warned to brace for flooding

Majorca is on high alert as it braces for a storm that has already claimed over 200 lives in Spain, with Brits holidaying on the island being warned to prepare.

Parts of the Balearic Islands, including parks, gardens, and cemeteries, have been cordoned off ahead of the storm while homeless people have been evacuated off the streets of Palma. 

Spain’s weather service Aemet has issued severe weather warnings that heavy rainfall could hit Majorca, potentially causing flooding. 

The agency warned: “One-hour accumulated precipitation: 50 mm. In some areas, more than 120 mm can accumulate in a few hours.”

The largest city and capital Palma, was under a rainfall warning. Menorca, another Balearic Island, was also at risk.

Aemet cautioned: “Precipitation is expected in the south-eastern peninsular, south-east of Castilla and Leon, Aragon, Cataluna, Levante and Baleares, without falling into large areas of the Alps.

“May be dangerous Chubascos and torments locally fierce and/or persistent in the far west from Andalucia and in the lower Ebro and Baleares without discarding areas of the southern part of the system Central Western.”

“On Saturday the instability will continue in the Eastern Mediterranean area and in the southern part of Andalucia, with chubascos and torments that could still be locally fierce y/o persistent in Tarragona, Castellon, Valencia and Baleares, without discarding them in Cadiz and the West from Malaga.”

This comes after the devastating storms that hit mainland Spain earlier this week, claiming at least 200 lives. 

Palma’s first deputy mayor, Javier Bonet, has called on citizens to remain indoors unless it’s absolutely necessary, according to reports from the local news outlet Majorca Daily Bulletin.

He said: “We are not on red alert, but it is essential to warn the population to avoid greater risks”.

Residents have been advised to take precautions such as securing doors and windows, staying in higher parts of their homes, and steering clear of low-lying areas like basements and garages.

The public has been cautioned against non-essential travel to reduce the danger of floods.

Emergency services have bolstered their staffing for the weekend, with the council increasing the number of firefighters, local police, Civil Protection, cleaning and sewage workers.