Majorca in ‘lockdown’ as it prepares for storm which caused fatal flash flooding in Spain

Majorca is in ‘lockdown’ as it braces itself for heavy rains and storms which battered mainland Spain earlier this week, resulting in the deaths of at least 158 people. The island, along with Menorca, is under an amber alert today and tomorrow, as the weather front moves across the Balearics.

On Wednesday, a meeting was held by the island's emergency services to coordinate a response should any flooding occur across the islands in the coming days. Palma’s first deputy mayor, Javier Bonet, has urged people to stay at home and only leave if absolutely necessary, local news site Majorca Daily Bulletin reports.

He said: “We are not on red alert, but it is essential to warn the population to avoid greater risks." People are urged to follow measures to protect themselves, such as securing doors and windows, staying in the upper parts of their properties and avoiding low areas such as garages and basements.

People are also being urged to avoid unnecessary journeys to minimise risks of travelling through potential floods. The stormy weather coincides with a national holiday for All Saints Day, when many families plan on visiting churches and cemeteries.

Majorca’s capital city Palma has taken the decision to close its cemeteries from Friday afternoon until Monday, along with public parks and gardens. Javier Bonet also announced that all homeless people will be evacuated from settlements near flood zones.

Emergency services in Majorca have increased staffing for the weekend, with the council increasing the number of firefighters, local police, Civil Protection and cleaning and sewage workers. It comes after the Valencia region in mainland Spain was hit by devastating floods on Tuesday evening.

Flood water swept up cars and transformed streets into rivers, with more than 150 people losing their lives and fear that the death toll will rise as rescue efforts continue. A mammoth clean up is under way to clear the mud and debris which has covered towns and villages.