'disaster zone' tourist hotspot airports swamped by bed bugs and prostitution

THE HOUSING CRISIS IN SPAIN IS SO BAD THAT AIRPORTS IN TOURIST HOTSPOTS HAVE BEEN OVERRUN WITH HOMELESS PEOPLE SLEEPING ROUGH IN THE TERMINALS AS THEY HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO GO 22:57, 20 May

2025Updated 22:57, 20 May 2025 British holidaymakers heading to Spain have been warned of chaotic scenes at major airports which have been infested by insects and used as makeshift homeless

shelters. Hundreds of rough sleepers are getting their heads down at airports in tourist hotspots visited by millions of Brits each year as the country's housing crisis worsens. And

Madrid's airport — where up to 500 people have been counted sleeping rough by charities — will start to limit access during some parts of the day to stop more homeless people using its

terminals. Only travellers with boarding passes, airport workers and those accompanying someone with a ticket will be allowed to enter the airport during hours with few departing and

arriving flights. The tragic story is being repeated across the country, including Malaga and Palma airports which are dealing with influxes of rough sleepers, sparking humanitarian concerns

and health and safety fears. Article continues below It comes after Madrid's airport, which saw 66 million travellers pass through last year, had to be fumigated to deal with a bed bug

infestation earlier this month. A pest-control company was called in to clean its hallways, furniture and even check-in belts for bedbugs, ticks, and cockroaches. Airport workers reported

the bites appearing on their skin, leading to the airport's management to hire pest control. Mail Online reported tourists arriving at the airport this week were visibly shocked by what

they saw, with one overheard commenting: 'This looks like a disaster zone.' According to media reports in Spain, some of the airport dwellers have been found carrying knives and

machetes, while drug use and even prostitution is reportedly common. Meanwhile, workers at Malaga airport have also reported being bitten by fleas and bed bugs and say they have seen the

insects "climbing up the walls" near the departure gates. Spain's Worker's Union, the CCOO, is now calling on the authorities to clean up their act after receiving

"complaints from workers" of "unsanitary conditions, persistent smells and occasional aggression." Antonio González, from the General Workers' Union [UGT] said:

"There have been some tense moments with security and some workers, but nothing like what's happening in Madrid. "Things get a bit complicated between 2am and 5am in the

morning, when the last flights arrive. Troubled and repeat offenders are monitored by security personnel and cameras." Article continues below Spain's airport authority AENA said

it had asked Madrid city officials for help in addressing the problem months ago, but so far has received insufficient help. It said in a statement: “Airports are not places designed for

living in, but rather are infrastructure solely for transit, which in no case offers adequate conditions for overnight stays." _FOR THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS AND STORIES FROM ACROSS THE

GLOBE FROM THE DAILY STAR, SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER BY CLICKING_ _HERE __._