Flights heading towards some of Spain’s major airports have been diverted this evening as the country braces itself for the arrival of mega-storm Alice.
The extraordinary storm is expected to hit the popular tourist area of the Costa Blanca over the weekend, with the area on high alert for heavy rains and strong winds. Officials warned of ‘extraordinary danger’ on Friday.
Seven flights heading for Alicante-Elche airport were diverted today, and more diversions and delays are expected over the weekend.
A graphic shared by flight tracking website Flightradar24 showed several planes circling around Alicante airport.
The operator also said 12 flights were cancelled on Friday due to the weather warning.
The same situation exists at Valencia and Murcia airports, and several flights have also suffered severe delays.
AEMET, Spain’s weather agency, on Thursday issued a red warning for heavy rains in the resort town of Alicante, stating it would be in effect from Friday morning.
Rainfall totals could exceed 140 millimetres in 12 hours, especially in Valencia, the weather office said.
Last year, torrential rains and storm-force winds killed over 200 people in the Valencia region of Spain, with rescuers forced to search for bodies in stranded cars and sodden buildings in what has been called Spain’s deadliest natural disaster in living memory.
The monstrous flash floods swept away everything in their path in the east of Spain.