Freak storms unleashed a torrent of chaotic weather across Spain's coastal regions, causing significant flooding, injuries, and disruptions. The port city of Tarragona was hit by intense rain and hailstorms, transforming streets into rivers and causing widespread damage.
One dramatic video captured a man being swept down a street by floodwaters, clinging to an overturned moped as he was carried along. Hailstones, some described as massive, pounded the city, damaging businesses and severely reducing visibility for drivers navigating flooded roads. Part of a shopping center roof collapsed during the storm, though no serious injuries were reported from this incident. The extreme weather also resulted in the deaths of approximately 100 pigeons, which were reportedly caught in the hailstorm.
Further north, in and around the town of Roda de Bera, eleven people were injured in the early hours of Saturday morning. Among them, an 18-year-old woman was left in critical condition after a seafront wall collapsed on her and two other individuals. The storm in Tarragona prompted over 1,000 emergency calls, with firefighters and responders addressing incidents such as flooded basements, fallen trees, and road closures. Some residents in Tarragona experienced power outages.
The severe weather also impacted sporting events. The third stage of the Vuelta a Espana cycling race, a major Grand Tour event, was canceled after riders encountered a hailstorm while en route to the Font-Romeu ski resort in the French Pyrenees. Organizers cited rider safety as the reason for the cancellation.
Coastal Impacts and Mini-Tsunamis
The Balearic Islands were also affected by a series of unusual sea level fluctuations, locally known as rissagues. In the Ibizan resort of San Antonio, a concert was suspended as seawater flooded the main s'Arenal beach, submerging the stage and event setup. San Antonio Town Hall canceled the evening event for security reasons.
In Majorca, rissagues impacted the ports of Alcudia, Andratx, and Soller, as well as Port Adriano. Holidaymakers in Puerto Alcudia witnessed the sea surge onto the beachfront promenade, forcing people to wade through the water. Similar events occurred at terrace bars. Ciutadella in Menorca was also on alert for significant sea level oscillations.
These rissagues are attributed to sudden atmospheric pressure changes, not seismic activity, and have occurred in the Balearic Islands before. In July 2018, similar phenomena caused flooding and damaged property along the coast. While there were no immediate reports of injuries from the Balearic events, the phenomena can cause considerable disruption and damage to coastal infrastructure and vessels.