Two Dead as Flash Floods Ravage Spain's Catalonia Region
Torrential rain and a 'mini-hurricane' have caused widespread flooding, submerged vehicles, and disrupted transportation and events.
Two people have died in Spain's Catalonia region following severe floods brought on by a 'mini-hurricane' and torrential downpours. Emergency services are also searching for a missing person in Pineda de Mar.
One man died in Tordera after a wall collapsed, while another fatality was reported in Montornès del Vallès, according to Catalan leader Salvador Illa. The region's weather service, Meteocat, had issued a red alert, warning of a potential 'mini-hurricane' and urging residents to stay indoors due to the forecast for heavy rain.
In the area near Barcelona, homes and vehicles were submerged in Bellvitge and Cornella. Images showed streets turned into rivers, with ducks seen swimming on flooded motorways. The Besòs river rapidly rose, reaching a railway bridge and carrying debris.
Flights were delayed or canceled at Barcelona Airport, and local train services were disrupted. Shops closed early, football matches were called off, and a performance of Verdi's Aida at Barcelona's Liceu opera house was canceled.
Separately, on Friday evening, a 102-year-old woman died in Madrigueras, located northwest of Alicante, after flash floods inundated her home with over three feet of water. Approximately 90 people were rescued across the affected areas, many from their homes. Civil Guard officers reported that intense rainfall caused flooding on roads, sweeping away vehicles.
The scenes were compared to the devastating floods in Valencia in 2024, caused by a DANA weather event, which resulted in 232 fatalities. Authorities had issued high-level weather warnings on Friday, advising residents to avoid unnecessary travel and stay clear of flood-prone areas, underpasses, and dry riverbeds that can quickly fill.
Forecasters anticipate that the unstable weather conditions will persist into the coming week, with eastern Spain and the Balearic Islands remaining at high risk. Residents have been advised to monitor vulnerable relatives and neighbors, including the elderly, children, and individuals with disabilities.