Travel chaos in Malaga appears to be improving Thursday morning after dozens of flights were delayed and 15 cancelled following a powerful storm over the popular tourist destination Costa del Sol in Spain.
Some high-speed train services in Malaga are also reopening on Thursday after trains were halted and stations were evacuated due to flooding, national rail infrastructure operator Adif said.
Thousands of residents have been evacuated along the Guadalhorce River west of Malaga and reportedly along the Vélez River due to a high risk of flooding, while the city’s main hospital is now limiting its services to only emergencies after they were flooded.
The UK’s Foreign Office (FCDO) has updated its travel advice to warn that severe weather and flooding is affecting many areas along the Mediterranean coastline of Spain. They add that many parts of the Valencia region and Castilla La Mancha continue to be severely affected by recent flooding.
Multiple flights at Valencia’s airport appear to be cancelled on Thursday as severe weather warnings have been reinstated in the region.
The travel disruption comes two weeks after the city and other areas of Eastern Spain, namely Valencia were hit with devastating flash flooding due to torrential rainstorms, the worst flooding disaster the area has experienced in decades.
In the aftermath of the floods, cars have been piled on the street surrounded by a sea of debris from damaged buildings and structures.
More than 200 people have lost their lives after the flooding swept through streets, turning walkways into rivers and trapping people in their homes and on the roofs of cars.
It is the worst flood-related catastrophe Spain has witnessed since at least 1996 when 87 people died and 180 were injured in a flash flood near Biescas in the Pyrenees.
Here is the latest on the situation in Spain and what you need to know about travel.
Will my flight to Spain be cancelled after the latest flooding?
Out of the 296 commercial flights that were scheduled at Malaga-Costa Del Sol airport on Wednesday, 15 had been cancelled as of 8pm local time, and around five had been diverted, Spain’s airport group, Aena, said.
Aena asked that anyone flying from Malaga-Costa Del Sol airport and Barcelona’s El Prat Airport on Wednesday to check the status of their flight with their airline, as heavy rain and adverse weather were affecting approaches to both airlines.
Aside from the cancellations and diversions, flights arriving and departing from Malaga’s airport on Wednesday were largely delayed or disrupted throughout the afternoon, data from FlightRadar shows.
As of Thursday morning, most flights coming into the airport were landing on time, while one Iberia flight coming in from Valencia had been cancelled. Most of the scheduled departures flying out from Malaga are also undisrupted, apart from two flights, one to Paris and another to Valencia, that have been cancelled.
It appears that Valenica’s airport is experiencing disruption, as FlightRadar is showing that around 19 flights scheduled to depart have been cancelled as of Thursday morning.
The airport’s website advises passengers flying from Valencia Airport to check official accounts for road and transport status and check with their airline about the status of their flight.
Commuter train services in Valencia have also been suspended as of Thursday morning.
High-speed train services are starting to operate again after all trains in the Malaga province were halted, national rail infrastructure operator Adif said.
On Wednesday, Adif announced that commuter trains in the city and high-speed trains between Antequera and Malaga would be suspended due to the weather.
What are my rights if my flight has been cancelled?
Simon Calder, travel correspondent at The Independent, says: “Whatever the cause of a cancellation, and regardless of the amount of notice that is given, you can insist upon replacement transport: the airline must get you to your destination as soon as possible if that is what you want.”
“The UK Civil Aviation Authority says that means if a flight is available on the original day of travel, the passenger must be booked on it – even if it is on a rival carrier.”
However, cash compensation may not be available, as the airlines may claim the extreme weather means that “meteorological conditions incompatible with the operation of the flight concerned”, which means that the cancellation was not the airline’s fault.
Where in Spain has flooded?
This week, around 3,000 people living along the Guadalhorce River, and reportedly a further 1,100 near the Vélez River in the Malaga province have been evacuated due to the risk of flooding.
The Costa del Sol, including popular tourist destinations like Marbella, Estepona, and Vélez, has been bearing the brunt of the extreme weather.
An expat living in a town in Malaga has described homes and businesses being “decimated” after the river running through its centre burst its banks after the downpour caused water levels to rise.
The weather continues to impact Spain two weeks after torrential rain, which had amounted to a year’s worth in just eight hours in one region, hit cities such as Valencia and Malaga and caused serious flash flooding.
Over 200 people have died, and search and rescue teams have been trying to locate many who are unaccounted for.
Thousands of people faced power and water cuts and shortages of essentials last week, especially in the eastern region which was the worst affected.
Flooding also hit Barcelona due to intense downfalls battering the region last week. Footage showed cars submerged and rainwater overwhelming towns in the region.
Government travel advice
As of 14 November, the UK’s Foreign Office (FCDO) travel advice said that severe weather and flooding is affecting many areas along the Mediterranean coastline of Spain, and added that many parts of the Valencia region and Castilla La Mancha continue to be severely affected by recent flooding.
The FCDO said that journeys may be affected and advises checking the latest weather warnings from Spain’s meteorological office before travelling and following the instructions from local authorities.
In terms of the Foreign Office’s general advice about travelling to a destination that has been impacted by flooding, they warn that the flood waters can cause devastation and loss of life. After a flood, they also warn that there is an increased risk of water-borne diseases and transport infrastructure can be severely impacted.
Is there more rain on the way?
“Extreme risk” red warnings have been lifted along the southern coast of Spain, however orange and yellow warnings have still been put in place by Spain’s meteorological office Aemet.
On the east coast, Valencia remains subject to a “significant risk” orange alert, with up to 100mm of rain forecast in the space of 12 hours. In the west, orange alerts are also in force in Huelva, Andévalo and Condado, Aracena, Seville, Cadiz, and Grazalema.
Yellow warnings for gale-force winds have also been put in place on the Granada coastline, West and Almeria capital coast and the A Coruña coast in northern Spain.
Valenica’s surrounding areas including Castellon and Alicante, northern Sierra and south Badajoz and inland areas such as Avila, Caceres, Salamanca, Alcaraz, Murcia, Almanzora Valley and Los Velez are also under yellow weather warnings.
Can I cancel my holiday and get a refund?
As the Foreign Office has not warned against non-essential travel to Spain, there will be no special circumstances in place to be able to cancel a trip for a full refund.
The conditions for cancelling your trip will be dependent on your holiday provider, so it’s best to contact them if you’re looking to postpone.
There is no obligation for companies to refund bookings if you want to cancel, and you will not be able to claim travel insurance due to safety concerns unless the Foreign Office advice changes.
In terms of travel insurance, some policies include natural disaster cover for an event that prevents you from reaching your holiday destination. Check your insurance policies and speak to your insurer to see where you stand.
For more travel news and advice, listen to Simon Calder’s podcast
