BALEARIC WASH-OUT...!

ALL passenger and commercial shipping in the Balearics resumed normal activity yesterday after a weekend of strong North winds gusting to Force 7, forced the closure of ports in Mahon and Ciutadella on Minorca. According to Port authorities and the regional ministry for public works, housing and transport, the shutting down of operations in Ciutadella on Saturday caused major maritime traffic upheaval. The same port was subject to closure yet again on Sunday during the morning due to strong winds. On its journey from Palma to Ciutadella, the Trasmediterranea company superferry Fortuny was not able to dock until midday. Both authorities, however, said there were no specific operational or navigational problems at other Balearic ports over the weekends, despite intense rainfall in Ibiza and Formentera. Late Sunday night and early yesterday morning, 154 litres per square metre fell at Ibiza airport. According to the Balearic Met Office and the Spanish Airports Authority, the moment when the downpour was at its strongest was around 6.30am yesterday, when in the space of 20 minutes, 25.3 litres per square metre fell at the airport. The deluge caused an average of four-hour delays for eight inbound aircraft. The planes were provisionally diverted to Majorca but once the storm had died down, they were then able to take to the air once more for Ibiza. The storms affected the whole island. In the municipality of San Juan, 112 litres per square metre fell over a 24-hour period. Between 6.40am and 11am yesterday morning, the Fire Services on Ibiza received 38 calls for assistance triggered by flooding in the streets, collapsed walls and cars trapped by rushing water that had risen up over the sides of torrents, or drainage channels. Firemen also had to pump out water which had flooded the basement areas of new buildings not only in the capital town of Ibiza but also in San Jose and San Antonio. The strongest gusts of wind registered 61 kilometres per hour.