Storm Leonardo Hits Spain and Portugal, Black Ice Paralyzes Berlin Airport
Europe is experiencing a state of climate chaos, as the storm "Leonardo" has caused a wave of natural disasters between Spain and Portugal, while black ice has completely paralyzed air traffic at BerlinInternationalAirport in Germany.
* Flights Halted in Berlin
A spokesperson for Berlin Airport stated that takeoffs and landings are still halted due to black ice and freezing rain.
She added:
"Despite the efforts of ground service crews throughout the night to remove ice from the runways, the surfaces remain extremely slippery, and it is impossible to determine when flights will resume."
* Floods Claim Lives and Leave People Missing
In Portugal, a man died due to rising floodwaters, while a girl remains missing after being swept away by a wide river in Spain.
The storm "Leonardo" continues to bring heavy rain and strong winds to the Iberian Peninsula.
* Thousands Evacuated in Andalusia
The Andalusia region in southern Spain has seen about 4thousand people evacuated from their homes, while dozens of roads remain closed due to floods and landslides.
The Spanish meteorological agency has raised the alert level, warning of a new storm system arriving over the weekend.
* Portugal Under Flood Impact
The city of Alcácer do Sal, located about 90 kilometers from Lisbon, is struggling with rising waters from the Sado River that have flooded the city center, reaching two meters in some areas.
Portuguese authorities expect heavy rain to continue in the coming days, after previous storms in late January caused widespread destruction and claimed several lives.
* Background on the Storm
"Leonardo" is the latest storm in a series of extreme weather events that have struck Spain and Portugal in recent weeks, confirming that the region is experiencing an unprecedented state of atmospheric instability.
