Mallorca heavy rain sparks 59 call-outs and rescues

Heavy rain across Mallorca triggers 59 emergency call-outs between 16.00 and 19.00 on 18 September. In Palma, a woman and two children are pulled from a crashed car trapped by water with minor injuries. Local police also help two people in difficulty at sea; neither needs medical treatment.

Palma accounts for 55 of the incidents, with two in Calvià and one each in Marratxí and Llucmajor, according to the 112 emergency coordination centre.

Roads and buildings take the brunt

Water floods 18 roads, while 13 buildings or businesses are affected. Emergency teams also deal with 11 obstructions on roads, three risks of falling debris and two possible torrent overflows.

A fire breaks out at a warehouse in Palma's Son Castelló industrial estate, but the building's own fire-suppression system puts it out before firefighters arrive.

Emergency monitoring finds no torrent overflows. Water nevertheless builds up and runs through some urban areas after drainage systems struggle with the sheer volume of rain. At Ca na Bàrbara, water spills over at the end of a torrent after rubbish accumulates there. Son Fusteret records urban water build-up but no signs of a torrent overflow.

Downpour hits Palma and Calvià

The storm delivers its worst burst in just over 20 minutes, especially in Palma and Calvià. Calvià records 62 litres per square metre in one hour, including 54 litres in 30 minutes and a peak of 24 litres in 10 minutes.

Palma records 31 litres per square metre by 18.10, with 16 litres falling in only 10 minutes. Serveis Ferroviaris de Mallorca reports delays on train and metro lines as it works to restore normal services.

The emergency episode is now over. Spain's state weather agency Aemet has lifted its weather warnings, and no Civil Protection alerts are active in the Balearics.

Topics: Police · Fires · Flooding · Storms · Sea rescue · Weather · Environment · Palma · Calvià · Marratxí · Llucmajor

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com