'Do not travel unless strictly necessary': Chaos at Barcelona airport as terminal and runway flooded

Ruth Wright
·3-min read

Catastrophic flooding continues in Spain, with Barcelona airport and the surroundings the latest area to be affected.

Videos have been shared on social media of water pouring into a terminal at Barcelona El Prat airport.

So far 70 flights have been cancelled and 17 have been diverted to other airports after the rain started this morning.

Barcelona under a red weather warning

Spain's national weather agency AEMET has issued a red warning for Barcelona, stating "extreme danger due to torrential rain".

They have advised that people "must not travel unless strictly necessary".

Parents have been told not to travel to pick up their children from school, with authorities saying schools are "safe places" to leave their children.

Barcelona is the latest part of Spain to be hit by extreme weather, with recovery and clean-up ongoing around Valencia where the death toll is now over 200.

Barcelona flights cancelled or delayed after flash flooding hits airport

Barcelona airport operator Aena has said the airport has set up a 'crisis committee' to deal with the impacts of the heavy rain.

Water has been seen pouring through the airport's ceiling into the terminal, along with flooding on one of the runways.

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The airport's website currently shows most upcoming departures as either cancelled or delayed by at least one hour. The airport reports 70 flights have been cancelled so far.

Arrivals are also delayed or cancelled, with the situation looking the same into this evening.

Even if your flight is scheduled to depart or land, you may have difficulties reaching the airport with reports of flooding to roads leading to the airport and public transport services affected.

All passengers are advised to check with their airline for the status of their flight.

Vueling, the airline which operates the most flights in and out of El Prat, has said it has opened more check-in counters for affected passengers.

Barcelona metro and trains also affected

High speed trains between Barcelona and Tarragona have been suspended due to flooding in a tunnel used by the service. Train companies Renfe, Ouigo and Iryo use this line.

Catalonia's Rodalies has also been suspended.

In regards to Barcelona's Metro, trains are not stopping at Rambla Just Oliveras station (L1) in the direction of Fondo, nor on the platform of Liceu (L3) in the direction of Zona Universitaria, while circulation is also suspended on the L9 Sud, between Parc Nou and Aeroport T1.

Many other Metro stations are also closed.

Barcelona's Cable Car, Funicular and the city's Tourist Bus have also stopped running.

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Will you get a refund if you decide not to take your flight?

Travel insurance is designed to cover unforeseen events, such as emergency medical expenses, lost or stolen belongings and last-minute cancellations.

In some cases, you can be reimbursed if your trip is cancelled due to extreme weather - but certain conditions usually apply.

Check your policy for a list of covered reasons for trip cancellation, as these vary by provider. Some may provide add-ons for weather-related circumstances.

Simon McCulloch from Staysure travel insurance says: “The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has updated its travel guidance, advising travellers to stay informed of local conditions and to follow the advice of local authorities.

However, at this stage, there is no advice against travel to Spain, so if you decide to cancel your trip, it’s unlikely you’ll receive a refund from your holiday provider or from your insurer. We therefore recommend contacting your holiday provider to explore the available options.”

If your trip is cancelled by your airline or travel provider due to weather related events, you will likely be offered compensation and a replacement trip or refund.

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