Rescuers free people trapped by snow on Spain's Mallorca
Rescue crews on Spain's Mallorca raced Wednesday to free dozens of people left stranded in different parts of the Mediterranean island following a rare snowstorm.
Mountainous areas, particularly in the north of the popular holiday destination, were particularly affected by the passage of Storm Juliette, with roads blocked in some areas.
Over a metre (three feet) of snow has accumulated on some parts of the island's northern Serra de Tramuntana mountain range since the storm hit on Monday, according to national weather office AEMET.
The regional government of the Balearic Islands said it was working with security forces to reach a mountain road and two shelters "to rescue people who are still isolated" there.
Rescue workers managed to save a man and two children in Palma who were caught by a torrent of rainwater whilst in their vehicle.
Rescaten un home i dos menors d'un cotxe arrossegats pel torrent de sa Riera a Palma. Això va passar ahir dimarts vespre. El conductor va voler creuar el cabal d'aigua, però la força va arrossegar el cotxe 200m, fins a la urbanització de ca na Verda.
➡️ https://t.co/8p4E3ULTDn pic.twitter.com/9ZCLMimxVL
— IB3 Notícies (@IB3noticies) March 1, 2023
All of the people are in "good health", it said in a statement, adding three helicopters were taking part in the "search and evacuation" operation.
Spanish army's emergency unit UME said around 90 of its members, backed by snowploughs, were helping to clear roads.
Rescue crews were able to clear a path to the 13th-century Santuari de Lluc monastery, where around 100 people were trapped by the snow, local emergency services said.
L'UME ja és a Mallorca que s'uneix als organismes d'Emergències de Balears.
Ahir vespre, van arribar la Guàrdia Civil i diferents efectius d'Emergències al Santuari de Lluc, on es trobaven un centenar de persones.
➡️ Aquest va ser un dels moments: https://t.co/Iyhen83okX pic.twitter.com/KUrZs6m6xk
— IB3 Notícies (@IB3noticies) March 1, 2023
"Twenty people were evacuated. The rest will stay in the monastery," it added in a message late on Tuesday.
Located in the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range, the monastery is a popular starting point for walking tours.
Imatges des d'un dels helicòpters del dispositiu d'Emergències. Es pot veure la neu acumulada a la Tramuntana i com estan d'intransitables les carreteres. Ara, hi treballen més d'un centenar d'efectius. I s'insisteix a la població: no pujar a la Serra.
➡️ https://t.co/Iyhen83okX pic.twitter.com/LcIMvN0q7l
— IB3 Notícies (@IB3noticies) March 1, 2023
Local emergency services urged people not to come to the mountain to look at the snow, "either by car or on foot".
"Let's work together to support the operation to rescue people who are still trapped," the emergency services requested," it added in a tweet.
Known for its picturesque beaches, Mallorca -- part of the Balearic Islands which include Ibiza -- gets more than 300 days of sunshine per year, according to its tourism board.
While heavy rainfall is common in the autumn and winter, heavy snowfall is rare.
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Mountainous areas, particularly in the north of the popular holiday destination, were particularly affected by the passage of Storm Juliette, with roads blocked in some areas.
Over a metre (three feet) of snow has accumulated on some parts of the island's northern Serra de Tramuntana mountain range since the storm hit on Monday, according to national weather office AEMET.
The regional government of the Balearic Islands said it was working with security forces to reach a mountain road and two shelters "to rescue people who are still isolated" there.
Rescue workers managed to save a man and two children in Palma who were caught by a torrent of rainwater whilst in their vehicle.
Rescaten un home i dos menors d'un cotxe arrossegats pel torrent de sa Riera a Palma. Això va passar ahir dimarts vespre. El conductor va voler creuar el cabal d'aigua, però la força va arrossegar el cotxe 200m, fins a la urbanització de ca na Verda.
— IB3 Notícies (@IB3noticies) March 1, 2023
➡️ https://t.co/8p4E3ULTDn pic.twitter.com/9ZCLMimxVL
All of the people are in "good health", it said in a statement, adding three helicopters were taking part in the "search and evacuation" operation.
Spanish army's emergency unit UME said around 90 of its members, backed by snowploughs, were helping to clear roads.
Rescue crews were able to clear a path to the 13th-century Santuari de Lluc monastery, where around 100 people were trapped by the snow, local emergency services said.
L'UME ja és a Mallorca que s'uneix als organismes d'Emergències de Balears.
— IB3 Notícies (@IB3noticies) March 1, 2023
Ahir vespre, van arribar la Guàrdia Civil i diferents efectius d'Emergències al Santuari de Lluc, on es trobaven un centenar de persones.
➡️ Aquest va ser un dels moments: https://t.co/Iyhen83okX pic.twitter.com/KUrZs6m6xk
"Twenty people were evacuated. The rest will stay in the monastery," it added in a message late on Tuesday.
Located in the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range, the monastery is a popular starting point for walking tours.
Imatges des d'un dels helicòpters del dispositiu d'Emergències. Es pot veure la neu acumulada a la Tramuntana i com estan d'intransitables les carreteres. Ara, hi treballen més d'un centenar d'efectius. I s'insisteix a la població: no pujar a la Serra.
— IB3 Notícies (@IB3noticies) March 1, 2023
➡️ https://t.co/Iyhen83okX pic.twitter.com/LcIMvN0q7l
Local emergency services urged people not to come to the mountain to look at the snow, "either by car or on foot".
"Let's work together to support the operation to rescue people who are still trapped," the emergency services requested," it added in a tweet.
Known for its picturesque beaches, Mallorca -- part of the Balearic Islands which include Ibiza -- gets more than 300 days of sunshine per year, according to its tourism board.
While heavy rainfall is common in the autumn and winter, heavy snowfall is rare.
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