With Storm Ciarán sweeping across Western Europe and battering parts of Spain with heavy rains and gale force winds of up to 150kmh, emergency services in Madrid said a 23-year-old woman died on Thursday after a tree fell on her. Three others were slightly injured in the incident in the centre of the city, in the Calle Almagro, near Alonso Martínez metro.
Spanish media reported that the young woman, who was at a pedestrian crossing, died instantly after the 20-metre elm tree crashed down on her, leaving her body trapped between its branches. Her parents were with her at the time, and have been treated by psychologists from Madrid’s emergency services. The tragedy occurred at around 1pm in Madrid, while the city was on yellow alert for winds of up to 70 kmh.
The recording-breaking winds of Storm Ciarán will last at least until Saturday, according to Spain’s national weather agency, Aemet. Parks in the capital and other cities in Spain were closed on Thursday, and several trains and flights were cancelled.
Forty-eight of Spain’s 50 provinces have been placed on alert and the storm has already caused widespread chaos in many regions.
Railway operator Adif has suspended circulation on several railway lines across the country and set speed limits on others due to strong winds.
Galicia has been particularly affected, with the storm causing power cuts affecting some 9,800 customers. There have been 168kmh winds in the mountains of Lugo, intense rainfall near Pontevedra, and waves of almost seven metres in La Coruña. Train services have been suspended since 1 November between Ourense and Vigo and between La Coruña and Ferrol.
Strong winds also forced the cancellation of 13 flights from Bilbao airport. During the course of the morning, flights to or from Seville, London, Barcelona, Porto, Frankfurt, Madrid, Amsterdam and Munich stopped taking off or landing.
.@SAMUR_PC confirma el fallecimiento de una mujer en Almagro 2 tras caída de árbol. Atiende también a otros 3 heridos leves. @BomberosMad trabajando en el punto pic.twitter.com/wHrF6r7Qbc
— Emergencias Madrid (@EmergenciasMad) November 2, 2023
⚠️ Actualizamos nuestro aviso especial por temporal de viento, mala mar y lluvias.
— AEMET (@AEMET_Esp) November 2, 2023
👉 La #BorrascaCiarán todavía nos afectará durante la tarde/noche del jueves y el viernes.
👉 El sábado llega la #BorrascaDomingos, con efectos similares.
+ info ➡https://t.co/sSvbT5S7ul pic.twitter.com/6pn4puCjEP
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