The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has updated its travel advice for Spain after the country was rocked by some of the worst flooding in decades.
A British man is among at least 95 people who have been killed in the eastern part of the country as a result of flash floods in recent days.
According to local emergency responders, the 71-year-old unnamed man died in hospital after he was rescued from his home on the outskirts of Malaga.
This week, parts of Spain have been devastated, including many famous tourist hotspots like Malaga and Valencia, as torrential rain triggered unexpected flooding.
More people are reportedly missing as responders continue to scour the scene for people potentially trapped in their homes.
Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has issued his support for people across the country and vowed to offer all resources to help those affected.
He said: “For those who are looking for their loved ones, all of Spain feels your pain.
“Our priority is to help you. We are putting all the resources necessary so that we can recover from this tragedy.”
If you’re meant to be travelling to Spain this week, here’s what you need to know.
What’s happening in Spain?
More than a year’s worth of rain descended on the areas around Valencia on Tuesday, in just eight hours.
It led to pile-ups on the motorway, flooding of farmland, and bridges being swept away by fast-flowing rivers that had burst their banks.
Military-led rescue operations have been deployed today to help responders sift through the mud and debris to find people who may have been trapped.
This week’s deadly weather conditions have been attributed to a phenomenon known by the acronym DANA (Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos). This essentially refers to an area of low-pressure at high levels of the atmosphere.
Meteorologists and scientists have also suggested that climate change has intensified Spain’s weather this week.
What is the latest UK travel advice for Spain?
On October 30, the FCDO issued a new warning for people planning to visit Spain.
While the FCDO didn’t instruct people to cancel their trips, they did advise that visitors to Spain pay close attention to weather warnings wherever they are.
“Severe weather and flooding is affecting many areas of Southern and Eastern Spain, particularly the Valencia region and Castilla La Mancha. Journeys may be affected,” the update says.
“Check the latest weather warnings from Spain’s meteorological office before you travel and follow instructions from local authorities.”
The rest of the travel advice for the country has remained unchanged.
Is it safe to travel to Spain right now?
In 2023, some 17 million British nationals visited Spain, and most trips were incident-free.
Despite the recent FCDO update, travel to impacted regions of Spain is still permitted.
It might be difficult to get a full refund on flight tickets because the current travel advice doesn’t advise against non-essential travel.
