Heathrow and Gatwick: Spain holiday warning as airport closes and flights canceled

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If you are a sun lover in winter, there are warnings that some areas of Spain may be no-go areas.

While the popular holiday hotspot is open to UK citizens, with the Foreign Office allowing non-essential travel to the country, there are always travel warnings to be aware of – including an ash cloud, shark sightings and a tsunami warning.

Airport closed

The airport on the Spanish island of La Palma closed this week due to a huge ash cloud from a volcanic eruption.

READ MORE: The country 2 hours from London which has just been named the best in the world for vacations

There was a huge ash cloud spewing from the volcanic eruption that began on September 19.

A Spanish airport has been forced to close
(Image: Kirsty O’Connor / PA Wire)

A buildup of ash and dust on the runway forced local authorities to conduct ground flights on Thursday, AENA, an air operator, said.

A spokesperson for air traffic operator AENA said the eruption is not expected to pose greater risks to air travel at this time.

The British Foreign Office said: “On Sunday, September 19, 2021, around 3:15 p.m. local time, there was a volcanic eruption on the Spanish Canary Island of La Palma. The immediate areas of Los Llanos de Aridane, Tazacorte and El Paso were evacuated.

â€œIf you are in an affected area, you should follow the advice of local authorities, including social media updates from Cabildo de La Palma.

“If you are planning to visit the island imminently, we encourage you to contact your tour operators / airlines.”

Cumbre Vieja volcano erupting on September 25, 2021 in La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain — The erupting Cumbre Vieja volcano
(Image: Europa Press 2021 / Getty)

Shark sightings

Elsewhere in Spain, there have also been sightings of sharks on a popular beach frequented by tourists.

As a result, swimmers were prohibited from entering the water at the Costa Blanca beach, following the shark sightings.

The shark was spotted off Playa del Portet beach in Teulada, according to the Mirror.

The Mediterranean sea on the Costa Blanca, Alicante province in Spain — The shark was spotted from the Costa Blanca
(Image: Getty Images / iStockphoto)

British tourists flock to the beach every year, and the warning will stand until further notice.

Swimming has also been prohibited on the beaches of the municipality between Valencia and Alicante.

Tsunami warning

There is no need to panic yet, however Tenerife could victim of a devastating tsunami after a series of recent extreme weather events, scientists have warned.

Experts said the recent volcanic eruption in the Canary Islands could be the trigger for such a severe natural disaster.

This would result in a tsunami that would most likely have a severe impact not only on the north and west coasts of Tenerife, but also on other coasts of the archipelago.