Storm Filomena
hit
Spain this Saturday, January 9, 2021. -
Gabriel BOUYS / AFP
Never seen before, on the other side of the Pyrenees.
The flakes are expected to give way to cold and ice soon in Spain, where the historically intense snowstorm Filomena left three people dead on Saturday and continues to cripple part of the country, especially the capital Madrid, with little damage. hope for immediate improvement.
The snow was a little rarer on Saturday evening in the center of the country, moving towards the northeast, after 36 chaotic hours when the squalls of storm Filomena wreaked havoc on the road, rail and air axes, forcing the authorities to ask the population to stay at home.
The king and the queen express their "pain"
“I want to reiterate the government's call for the utmost vigilance in the face of changing weather conditions in the coming hours.
Let us follow the recommendations of the police, the army, civil protection and emergency services, ”tweeted Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
Quiero reiterar el llamamiento del Gobierno a la máxima prudencia ante la evolución del tiempo en las próximas horas.
Cumplamos todas las recomendaciones realizadas por las Fuerzas y Cuerpos de Seguridad del Estado, Ejército, Protección Civil y los servicios de emergencia.
- Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) January 9, 2021
The King and Queen of Spain have shared their “pain” and their “concern” on the same social network, asking for “the greatest vigilance against the risks of ice and snow”.
"If, despite the extremely difficult weather conditions, the number of incidents is relatively limited, we still deplore the death of three people", declared the Minister of the Interior during a press conference.
Los Reyes muestran su dolor por víctimas del temporal, preocupación con autoridades nacionales, autonómicas y locales, máximo interés por personas afectadas y piden extremar la precaución ante los riesgos de acumulación de hielo y nieve.
- Casa de SM el Rey (@CasaReal) January 9, 2021
A man found buried in the snow
One of the victims is a man found buried in snow in Zarzalejo, north-west of Madrid, and the other two were killed while trying to cross a river in Mijas, near Malaga in the south, where de heavy rains were raging, he said.
Fernando Grande-Marlaska announced Saturday evening that the army's rescue services and snowplows had cleared all of the 2,500 motorists trapped on the roads.
The minister insisted on the fact that "the snowfall was going to become icy" while, according to the last bulletin of the meteorological services, this cold wave with temperatures below -10 degrees will last until Thursday.
Almost 20,000 kilometers on 650 roads and bridges were affected by traffic problems.
Despite this, the Minister of the Interior wanted to be reassuring about the vaccination campaign against the coronavirus, ensuring that the 350,000 new doses scheduled for delivery on Monday will be well distributed.
Madrid residents take out their skis
Trees on the ground under the effect of snow and wind, abandoned cars and impassable sidewalks: in Madrid, covered by a blanket of snow unheard of for half a century, locals took out their skis as in the famous Puerta del Square. Sol or even a sled pulled by five dogs.
"I had never seen something like that, not a car in the city, snow everywhere (…) unforgettable, a historic moment", enthousiastic José Marqués, a 56-year-old taxi driver.
So much snow in Madrid tonight that is now possible to ski across Puerta del Sol #NieveInMadrid #Filomena #NevadaMadrid #Madrid #nievemadrid #snow pic.twitter.com/OSH9LmsgMj
- The Local Spain (@TheLocalSpain) January 8, 2021
Despite calls to limit travel, some could not help but go and explore this unusual ski resort setting: "I had never seen snow, for me all that is new. (…) And magical, I do not think it is an exaggeration to say it because there are a lot of people in the streets despite the pandemic and this situation creates a diversion ”, rejoiced Liliana Amaya, a 28-year-old teacher.
Schools closed Monday and Tuesday, Madrid airport still closed
Mayor José Luis Martinez-Almeida, on Twitter, urged residents not to leave their homes: "We are working to clear access to hospitals as quickly as possible but it is frankly complicated as long as it snows."
All schools, from nursery schools to universities, will remain closed Monday and Tuesday, announced the president of the region Isabel Diaz Ayuso, as will the parks.
Madrid-Barajas international airport, closed since Friday evening, will remain so “at least until Sunday afternoon”: “Two runways have been cleared (…) but we expect them to be frozen.
New situation update tomorrow at 1 pm, ”the airport tweeted on Saturday evening.
The matches of the Spanish football championship between Atletico Madrid and Bilbao and that of Elche-Getafe have been postponed sine die, as has the Spain-Croatia handball match scheduled for Saturday at 6 p.m.
⚠️Última temporal hora de nieve in Madrid: por la prolongación del cierre de Barajas, cancelamos casi todos lo vuelos del domingo.
Toda the info aquí 👇
- Iberia (@Iberia) January 9, 2021
The paralyzed capital
Bus service has been suspended in the city and all trains to or from Madrid have been canceled, national rail company Renfe has reported.
The metro will run all night from Saturday to Sunday "for essential trips," said the Madrid region.
Besides Madrid, the entire interior of the Iberian Peninsula was affected by this storm due to an interaction between a very humid and relatively gentle air flow arriving from the south-east and a very cold air mass.
On Sunday, snowfall is expected to shift to northeastern Spain.
World
Snowstorm in Spain: Three people died
Planet
Pyrenees: With -34.1 ° C, Spain would have beaten its absolute cold record
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