A British holidaymaker in Ibiza has declared the island “is done” after his Mediterranean getaway turned into a complete nightmare.
Travel blogger Taylor Budd claimed he had endured a “natural disaster” on Tuesday (September 30) as the Spanish island was battered by torrential downpours and severe flooding. Taking to TikTok, he posted clips of his surroundings and disclosed he was unable to venture in most directions due to the treacherous surface water.
“It has been an absolute nightmare – we got a really loud alert on our phones everywhere on the island,” he explained in a video. “It told us to stay away from the sea, from rivers and if you’re on the bottom floor of a high-rise or hotel to get to upper floors.”
Taylor disclosed that the alert had triggered everyone in the tourist hotspot to “go into a panic”, whilst he was compelled to spend four hours in a taxi as his vehicle became “really stuck” during a journey from San Antonio to Playa d’en Bossa – setting him back €100.
“I’m more concerned that there was water dripping out of the walls on the motorway,” Taylor continued, likening it to the film Final Destination. He stated that whilst he’s aware Ibiza “needs rain”, the island “isn’t cut out” for such extreme conditions, with its drainage systems seemingly unable to manage.
WARNING: Video below contains explicit language. Viewer discretion is advised.
“There’s flooding everywhere, the whole island is at a standstill, shops are shut and people’s apartments are flooded,” Taylor added. He went on to express fears that buildings could collapse due to Ibiza’s infrastructure and architecture “not built” the same way as in the UK.
While conditions had clearly improved by the evening, he admitted it was still “carnage” with venues including Cova Santa postponing events. Taylor concluded by showing off knee-deep water amid struggles to find a taxi driver willing to brave the conditions. “It’s a freaking joke,” he fumed.
Last night (September 30), Ibiza Airport issued an official statement in response to the severe weather, after videos surfaced of water pouring through the ceiling. The airport said on its website: “If you are planning to fly to/from Ibiza Airport, please check with your airline about the status of your flight.”
It came after Pablo Gárriz, Director General of Emergencies, said Ibiza saw up to 200mm of rain in just two hours. He said the storm’s damage potential “has been evolving” but added the phenomenon appeared to be losing strength.
Around 220 tourists were left trapped after a hillside in the Puig des Molins area gave way and sent large rocks tumbling towards two hotels below.
In the aftermath, dozens of police officers and ambulances surrounded the scene, but thankfully just a small number of injuries were reported and all of the hotel guests were eventually freed from the building and rehoused nearby.
