Madrid - Wind, rain and snow hit Spain on Thursday, with wind gusts causing injuries to several people, officials said. A gangway linking a cruise ship with the port of Palma de Majorca broke, sending three passengers falling into the water. Two crew members jumped in to rescue them. At least one of the five people involved sustained serious injuries.
In Spain's north African enclave of Melilla, six schoolchildren were injured after being hit by a detached window. The frontier wall separating Melilla from Morocco collapsed partially.
In the enclave of Ceuta to the west of Melilla, winds blowing at more than 110 kilometres an hour tore off roofs, uprooted trees and knocked over lamp posts. At least one family was evacuated from home.
In southern Spain, a 53-year-old woman was hospitalized with serious injuries after her home partially collapsed in Camas near Seville overnight.
On Wednesday, a construction worker in the north-western port of Malpica was washed out to sea by a wave and remains missing.
Snow hampered traffic in northern Spain, forcing the closure of several mountain passes. Several regional flights were cancelled or diverted around the country.
A weather alarm was in force also in neighbouring Portugal, where nine aircraft were diverted to Porto and Faro after being unable to land in Lisbon.
