News

The expected cyclone hit strongly the coast of the Basque Country on Saturday, bringing winds of around 167 kph and 21,5-meter waves. The strong winds provoked several damage, among them power cuts, traffic problems and temporary suspension of train and flight services.

Although the storms died down by midday, Basque government keeps Civil Protection Plan active in the Basque Country due to the bad sea conditions.

Basque Emergency Service SOS Deiak registered 4,300 calls made to the emergency number 112 since Friday evening.

220,000 Basque homes with no light

According to the Spanish power firm Iberdrola there would be 120,000 homes without electric supply in the Basque autonomous community. In Gipuzkoa there are around twenty localities affected, among them Beasain, Bergara, Tolosa, Deba, Elgoibar, Hondarribia and some districts in Donostia-San Sebastian such as Altza, Intxaurrondo and el Antiguo. In Bizkaia there are 24 towns with no electric supply such as Bilbao -areas such as Deusto, Txurdinaga or Casco Viejo-, Zeberio, Orozco, Orduña, Mungia or Sopelana. Moreover, Sodupe, Alonsotegi, Lekeitio and Ondarroa have also been affected. In Alava there are 9 towns with no electric supply and 13 which has partially been affected, like Amurrio. Iberdrola hopes to repair all the electric failures in a few hours. In the northern Basque Country -Iparralde- there are 100,000 homes with no electric supply. Even if the storm was not so strong in Navarre, there were also several material damage.

Evacuations

On the other hand, at 02:00 A.M. 60 people were evacuated after the wind blew the roofs off their homes in Basauri (Biscay). In Saint-Jean-de-Luz (northern Basque Country) 35 people were also evacuated due to the same reason.

Gusts of 167 kph and 21,5 m waves

The cyclone generated gusts of 167 kph in La Garbea, 160 kph in Jaizkibel mountain, 158 kph in Oiz mountain, 155 kph at the port of Bilbao, 154 kph in Bermeo, 144 kph in Orduña, 115 kph in Vitoria-Gasteiz and 101 in Bilbao.

On the other hand, a buoy placed at Matxitxako cape measured 21,5-meter high waves, 13,5-meter waves in San Sebastian-Donostia and 9,8- meter waves at the port of Pasaia.