Severe storm

Palma de Mallorca airport is under water

While it remained dry in many parts of Mallorca on Tuesday, more than 43 liters of water per square meter fell from the sky in Palma within a single hour in the afternoon, according to the Spanish weather service Aemet.(Bild: APA/AFP/JOE KLAMAR (Symbolbild))

The airport on the popular vacation island of Mallorca was temporarily closed on Tuesday afternoon. All take-offs and landings were temporarily suspended. The reason was a severe storm. 

However, flight operations have since resumed after around an hour. Intensive efforts are being made to normalize operations. However, delays into the evening are to be expected.

In the meantime, approaching aircraft had diverted to Barcelona on the mainland.

Up to 90 liters of water in one hour
According to the local weather service AEMET, 45 liters of rain fell in one hour, with peak values reaching up to 90 liters.

Runways under water
The heavy rainfall not only disrupted flight operations. They also caused chaos at and around the airport. The access roads, the parking lots and parts of the terminal, including the duty-free store and other stores, were partially under water, as reported by the regional media.

In some stores, it rained through the ceiling. There was also flooding at Playa de Palma with the so-called Ballermann - the party stronghold of German tourists.