Majorca on lockdown as tourist hotspot braces for flooding horror after 200 killed

Areas of Majorca have gone into lockdown as its people, including holidaying Brits, were warned to prepare for the storm which has already killed more than 200 people in Spain

Areas of Majorca have gone into lockdown as its people, including holidaying Brits enjoying a break, were warned to prepare for the storm which has already killed more than 200 people in Spain.

Areas, including parks, gardens and cemeteries, have been cordoned off in preparation for the weather which could bring several inches of rain in only a few short hours. Homeless people have also been evacuated from areas of Palma, Majorca, where thousands of Brits are on holiday.

Weather warnings are in place as the country's national weather service Aemet, warned 120mm of water could fall in around three hours, bringing havoc to its streets.

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Javier Bonet, Palma's first deputy mayor, announced on Thursday, as per the Majorca Daily Bulletin: "We are going to take the measure of closing the cemeteries from 14.00 hours this Friday until next Monday. We ask that this celebration be held next week and we will set up a special timetable from 8 am to 9 pm from Monday to Sunday so that it can be held safely".

The council will be evacuating all homeless individuals from settlements near torrents or flood zones, providing them with temporary accommodation while the alert is active. In flood-prone areas of Palma (Son Rossinyol, Sa Riera and Torrent des Rafal area), local police and social services units will encourage residents to evacuate and seek refuge in a safe location.

Aemet said in a statement: “Precipitation is expected in the south-eastern peninsular, south-east of Castilla and León, Aragón, Cataluña, Levante and Baleares, without falling into large areas of the Alps. May be dangerous Chubascos and torments locally fierce and/or persistent in the far west from Andalucía and in the lower Ebro and Baleares without discarding areas of the southern part of the system Central Western.

“On Saturday the instability will continue in the Eastern Mediterranean area and in the southern part of Andalucía, with chubascos and torments that could still be locally fierce y/o persistent in Tarragona, Castellón, Valencia and Baleares, without discarding them in Cádiz and the West from Málaga."

It comes as nearly 2,000 people are still feared missing after devastating flooding ravaged Spain this week, as the death toll reaches more than 200. Local phonelines have been clogged by families and friends looking for loved ones affected by the tragedy. The number is hoped to be reduced in the coming hours as people are reunited - however, some are feared to be victims of the water.