SAO PAULO, July 1 (Reuters) - An Air Europa flight

headed from Madrid to Montevideo, Uruguay, was diverted to a

Brazilian airport on Monday after hitting severe turbulence, the

carrier said, and 30 passengers experienced minor injuries,

local health authorities said.

Flight UX045 made an emergency landing at the Natal Airport

in northeastern Brazil at 2:32 a.m. local time, according to

local airport operator Zurich Airport Brasil.

A Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft was flying the

route, FlightRadar24 data showed.

"Our flight bound for Montevideo was diverted to Natal due

to strong turbulence," Air Europa said in a statement on social

media. "The plane landed normally and those injured of varying

severity are already being treated."

The health secretariat from the government of the Rio Grande

do Norte state, where Natal is located, said in a statement that

30 passengers had been taken to hospitals in Natal with minor

abrasions or orthopedic traumas.

According to Air Europa, a second plane was set to depart

from Madrid later on Monday to pick up the passengers and

continue the trip to Uruguay.