Mega storm Melissa paralyzes Spain: Cities flooded; Emergency evacuation ordered PHOTO/VIDEO

According to the Spanish agency AEMET, the storm hit Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, and Galicia the hardest, with waves exceeding five meters and winds reaching up to 80 kilometers per hour.

Barcelona Under Water

The city of Barcelona has issued a warning for residents to stay indoors and avoid moving around. Municipal services urged citizens to take “extreme precautions,” reports El País.

At El Prat Airport, at least 47 flights were canceled, leaving hundreds of tourists stranded at the terminals. According to El Mundo, by 10 a.m. firefighters had responded to 39 flood-related incidents, including 16 rescue operations in elevators due to power outages and water intrusion.

In Badia del Vallès, a building was evacuated due to the risk of roof collapse, while rescue teams pulled residents from submerged vehicles.

Floods in Catalonia

In Catalonia, some rivers have breached their banks, and social media has been flooded with videos of submerged streets in the municipalities of Cerdanyola del Vallès and Sabadell. Underground parking garages are completely flooded, and residents have appealed to local authorities for assistance.

“This is the most severe impact we have experienced in recent years. We urge citizens not to leave their homes and to stay away from rivers and streams,” said Catalonia’s president, Salvador Illa Roca, according to La Vanguardia.

Balearic Islands Paralyzed

In Palma de Mallorca, hail and rain have nearly brought life to a standstill. Resorts are flooded, and numerous tourists have been evacuated to hotels on higher ground. Flights have been delayed, and several local roads have been closed due to torrents.

On Ibiza, heavy rainfall caused traffic incidents, accompanied by strong thunderstorms and power outages in several settlements.

Galicia Hit by Strong Winds

In northwestern Galicia, waves reached up to five meters, while winds toppled trees and damaged dozens of buildings.

Meteorologists predict that Storm Melissa will move southward, with the worst impacts yet to come in Andalusia, Galicia, Catalonia, and Aragon.