A large-scale operation began early in the morning on Ibiza (Ibiza): members of the military emergency unit arrived on the island to deal with the damage caused by Storm Alice (Alice). On Saturday, severe weather practically paralyzed life on the island—roads were blocked, flights were canceled one after another, and some neighborhoods were left without electricity. Floodwaters covered the streets, and local services struggled to respond to the numerous emergency calls.
The severe weather wasn’t limited to the Balearic Islands. Hundreds of incidents were reported in Murcia (Murcia), Alicante (Alicante), and other regions, including evacuations. Authorities were forced to request military assistance to prevent potential flooding. However, once the threat in Murcia subsided, forces were redirected to Ibiza, where the situation remained critical.
On Sunday, the storm shifted north, hitting the coasts of the Valencian Community (Comunidad Valenciana) and Catalonia (Catalunya). Meteorologists issued an orange alert for the northern part of Castellón (Castellón), the south of Tarragona (Tarragona), as well as Ibiza and Formentera (Formentera). Rainfall of up to 50 liters per square meter per hour and up to 140 liters in 12 hours was expected. Other areas were under a yellow alert. In the Balearic Islands and Valencia, warnings remained in effect until 11 a.m., and in Catalonia—until 5 p.m.
The night passed relatively calmly, although in Murcia there were fears of rivers overflowing their banks. In the end, the military forces that had been deployed there were withdrawn and sent to Ibiza, where by Saturday evening the rainfall reached its peak, forcing the airport to cancel some flights.
The Balearic Islands government, after issuing an emergency alert through the ES Alert system, urged residents of Formentera and Mallorca not to leave their homes unless necessary. Regional leader Marga Prohens and Valencia President Carlos Mazón canceled their trips to Madrid for Spain’s National Day parade due to the unstable situation.
On Sunday, the rains moved further north, affecting Castellón and Tarragona. Catalan authorities warned of possible hail, strong gusts of wind, and thunderstorms in the areas of Montsià and Baix Ebre.
A significant amount of rainfall was recorded overnight in the Valencian Community, causing a sharp rise in water levels in the Poyo, Cavalls, and Horteta ravines in the municipality of Torrent, as well as in the Gallego ravine in Chiva. These locations had already suffered from similar disasters last year. By morning, the situation had stabilized, and firefighters reported that conditions had returned to normal.
Rail service, which was disrupted due to flooding on lines 1 and 2, is expected to be restored during the day. Authorities continue to monitor the weather conditions and urge residents to exercise caution.
