A British hiker has been found dead and another is missing on the island of Mallorca in the Baleares, after heavy rains swept over the popular tourist destination, emergency services said on Wednesday.
‘One of the hikers has been found dead. The Guardia Civil police and the fire brigade of Mallorca continue the search for the other missing person,’ emergency services in the Balearic Islands wrote on social network X.
Emergency services have been looking for the two British hikers since Monday night in an area of mountains in Mallorca where the Torrente de Pareis canyon descends to the Mediterranean.
According to Spanish media, the hiker whose body was recovered is a 32-year-old man, while the other, who is missing, is a woman. They were apparently swept away by flash flooding in the area.
Local authorities had on Tuesday called for people to be careful due to the ‘very intense storms’ that were expected.
‘Avoid outdoor activities (going to the beach, hiking, water sports),’ the archipelago’s emergency services warned on X.
Mallorca, known for its picturesque beaches and sunny weather, is one of Europe’s most visited destinations. It is especially popular with German and British tourists.
America’s Cup postponed
More thunderstorms over Barcelona on Wednesday also forced the organisers of the America’s Cup sailing event to postpone racing. That decision came after lightning struck near a yacht on Tuesday, forcing a race to be abandoned.
With winds reportedly gusting up to 50 knots offshore on the Balearic Islands and a front moving towards Barcelona, the Race Committee made the call to abandon all racing in the Louis Vuitton Cup for Wednesday.
On Tuesday, dramatic lightning struck just a few hundred metres ahead of Italy’s Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli yacht (see Tweet video below and main image, courtesy of AC Media), with the team on the final leg of their race and headed to the finish.
Immediately that race was abandoned and the AC75 yachts, with full carbon masts and hulls, headed initially into the spectator fleet before fast-towing back to their bases in the Port Vell of Barcelona. Rapid work from the chase boat teams, everyone made it back safely.
In addition to the cancellation of racing on Wednesday, the decision was also taken to close the official Race Village on the Moll de la Fusta and all fan zones due to the forecast for heavy rain squalls and the possibility of thunder and lightning around the Barcelona area.
The moment lightning struck during Race 17 of the Louis Vuitton Cup Round Robin in Barcelona.#AC37 #LVCup #Day5 pic.twitter.com/nJ938sVBpw
— americascup (@americascup) September 3, 2024
Atención a los chubascos y tormentas que hoy pueden ser fuertes o muy fuertes y con rachas de viento fuerte. Hay aviso naranja.
Ya se está aproximando a Ibiza por el oeste y probablemente alcance la isla en la próxima hora.https://t.co/yIVcGIyph7 pic.twitter.com/Q0Sd4xIWgG— AEMET_Baleares (@AEMET_Baleares) September 4, 2024
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