Woman Washed Away by Floods in Spain After Hottest Summer on Record

Rescuers in Spain are searching for a woman who was washed away by floodwaters in the village of Olivella, located approximately 25 miles west of Barcelona. The incident occurred as the country experienced torrential rain following its hottest summer on record.

According to local news outlets, the woman was "swept away by water" along a stream. Joan Ramon Cabello, prevention subdirector at Catalan Civil Protection, told regional broadcaster 3Cat that the woman was "in a vehicle and it seems she tried to get out" before being carried away. Police are continuing their search for her.

The heavy rainfall has submerged streets and disrupted travel across Barcelona and the country's Mediterranean east. Spain's national weather agency, AEMET, issued warnings for heavy rain, including a brief red alert for Barcelona due to the threat of flash floods. Authorities urged residents in Catalonia, Valencia, and Almeria to avoid unnecessary travel and exercise extreme caution, with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez warning of "very complicated situations."

Mass telephone alerts were issued to residents in parts of Catalonia, Valencia, and Almeria due to the risk of flooding. In Barcelona, metro stations were closed, buses were diverted, and flights at Barcelona's El Prat airport experienced delays and cancellations. Catalan emergency services reported receiving over 850 calls related to the downpours, leading to more than 500 incidents.

In the neighboring region of Valencia, weather monitor Avamet recorded over 70 millimeters of rain in just 30 minutes in several municipalities, an event the agency described as "rarely" seen in such a short period. The region reported 478 weather-related incidents, primarily involving property damage, leaks, and traffic disruption. All metro lines in the city of Valencia were suspended, and the city's airport was closed for hours, causing 12 flights to be diverted.

A top-flight football match between Levante and Athletic Bilbao in Valencia was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch and flooding in the players' tunnel. Further south, more than 20 municipalities in Almeria and Murcia suspended classes as a precautionary measure.