Latest travel advice for Spain as visitors to Malaga warned of ‘torrential rainfall’

Malaga and Catalonia are on high alert, with strong rain expected to continue

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Extreme rainfall has hit regions of Spain this week, leading to flooding and evacuations in Malaga, the Costa del Sol and Valencia. The national weather office has placed both Malaga and Catalonia on the highest alert, with strong rain expected to last until at least Friday November 14.
The tourist resorts of Marbella, Velez and Estepona are expected to bear the brunt of the extreme weather phenomenon known as a “Dana”. On Wednesday, homes in the town of Benamargosa were “decimated” after a river burst its banks, while in the city of Malaga, services at the main hospital were severely reduced as a result of flooding.
Last week, Catalonian authorities warned visitors and locals not to travel to the region, and Barcelona, unless “strictly necessary”.
It comes after Valencia suffered one of the deadliest floods in Europe this century, with 217 confirmed deaths. Shocking footage showed piles of cars being dragged away by the flood-water.
Rescue workers continue to search through the rubble amid fears that the death toll could rise, while protesters have called for the regional president, Carlos Mazón, to step down.
Here is everything you need to know about travelling to Spain if you already have plans to visit the country.
Catalonia, in north-eastern Spain, and the Malaga region in the south, are both currently under high alert for “very strong to torrential” rainfall and flooding. Overnight, more than a month’s worth of rain fell in parts of Valencia, incuding 110mm in Alcudia de Veo, 99mm in Suera and 88mm in Chiva.
Parts of the Andalusia region and the Balearic Islands are on orange alert, which signals a significant meteorological event “with a degree of danger for normal activities”.
The Valencia region has been the worst affected by the rainfall. On October 29, at a weather station in Chiva, the equivalent of a year’s worth of rainfall was recorded in just eight hours.
The province of Huelva, on the south-western tip of Spain, was also hit by torrential rain earlier this month. Jerez Airport reported 114.8mm of rain in 24 hours – a record.
Other parts of Europe have been badly hit by flooding this year, particularly in mid-September, when a weather system brought record rainfall in Austria, Czechia, Slovakia, Poland, Romania and Hungary.
The flooding in Valencia has been devastating. At least 217 people are confirmed dead and tens of thousands of soldiers have been deployed to the area to search through the rubble. The region is still recovering from the weather event.
The tragedy is one of Europe’s worst flooding disasters on record. In 1967, at least 500 people died in Portugal. The local government has been criticised for failing to issue a sufficient warning ahead of the disaster.
Barcelona suffered considerable rainfall earlier this month, and footage shared on social media showed the terminals and car parks at El Prat Airport experiencing severe flooding.
As a result, more than 70 flights were disrupted and the local authorities warned people in the region to avoid travel unless strictly necessary. The clean-up has begun, but more rainfall is expected this week.
The Met Office shows warm, dry conditions for Malaga and Barcelona over the next week, although this may change. Those hoping to travel to the regions affected should be aware that the clean-up process will take some time.
If your flight has been cancelled, regardless of the notice period, you will be eligible for alternative transport. The airline must get you to your destination as soon as possible, if that is what you desire. If there is an alternative flight on your day of travel, your airline is obliged to book you on to it – regardless of whether it is on a different carrier.
It is, however, unlikely that you will be eligible for compensation, as the extreme weather is a meteorological event outside of the airline’s control.
Dozens of flights have been cancelled due to the rainfall. Spanish airport authorities have asked that those flying out of Malaga’s airport and El Prat Airport in Barcelona to check with their airline before they travel. It would be wise to brace for delays.
Bus services to and from Malaga were suspended on November 13. Most trains to Malaga have also been cancelled, while trains between Malaga and Barcelona are severely delayed. Two metro lines in Malaga have been suspended or partially closed.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has updated its travel advice to read: “Severe weather and flooding is affecting many areas along the Mediterranean coastline of Spain. In particular, many parts of the Valencia region and Castilla La Mancha continue to be severely affected by recent flooding. Journeys may be affected. Check the latest weather warnings from Spain’s meteorological office before you travel and follow instructions from local authorities.”
However, there are no formal government warnings against travelling to Spain. This means that if you have a holiday booked to Spain, it is likely to be going ahead unless you have heard otherwise from your airline or tour operator.
Simon McCulloch, the chief commercial officer of the travel insurance company Staysure, said: “The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office 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.”
This article was first published on November 5 and has been revised and updated.
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