The catastrophic flash floods that killed at least 158 people in eastern Spain were one of the three most intense such storms in the last century in the Valencia region.
More than 90 deaths were recorded on Wednesday alone in the immediate aftermath of the torrential rains and flooding, which affected areas as far south as Malaga.
More than 300 millimetres (12 inches) of rain fell in parts of the province, reported Spain’s meteorological agency, AEMET. In the town of Chiva, nearly 500 millimetres fell in eight hours.
The storm is now heading towards southern Spain and the popular holiday destination of the Balearic Islands, including Majorca.
As a serious precaution, Palma city council has taken measures to protect the population from Friday until next Monday.
Javier Bonet, Palma’s first deputy mayor, said on Thursday, according to the Majorca Daily Bulletin: “We are going to take the measure of closing the cemeteries from 14.00 hours this Friday until next Monday. We ask that this celebration be held next week and we will set up a special timetable from 8 am to 9 pm from Monday to Sunday so that it can be held safely”.
In Spain, All Saint’s Day, “Día de Todos los Santos”, is celebrated each year on November 1, a holiday of remembrance in honour of deceased relatives and friends.
The parks and gardens in the Passeig Sagrera, Bosque de Bellver, Son Tarres park (Son Parera) and Ses Vies park will also be closed from 2pm.
Bonet also asked the public to avoid all unnecessary journeys in order to minimise risks and to try to avoid, as far as possible, travelling through streets with lots of trees.
He has also asked the public to remain in their homes unless absolutely necessary and to take into account the necessary guidelines to protect themselves, such as closing doors and windows, staying in the upper areas of the house and avoiding low areas such as storerooms, basements or garages.
Bonet has also announced that the council will evacuate all homeless people from settlements near torrents or flood zones and offer them a place to stay while the alarm remains active.
In the flood-prone areas of Palma (Son Rossinyol, Sa Riera and Torrent des Rafal area), Local Police and Social Services units will try to persuade residents to leave the area and take refuge in a safe place.
The measures will be active from 2pm on Friday and will remain in place all weekend, until November 4.
The council’s first deputy mayor, Eder García, head of the Palma Fire Brigade, Guiem Mascaró, head of the Palma Local Police and Miquel Busquets, councillor for Security, gave a press conference after taking part in the City Council’s Civil Protection commission to assess the preventive measures related to the adverse weather conditions forecast for November 1.
The council has also increased the number of firefighters, local police, Civil Protection and 20 Emaya (municipal cleaning, sewage) brigades.
“We are not on read alert,” said Bonet, “but it is essential to warn the population to avoid greater risks”.
