SPAIN FLOODS: TWO DEAD, ONE MISSING IN CATALONIA
Read Time:2 Minute, 16 Second
By: Fasasi Hammad
Two people have died and another remains missing after torrential rainfall triggered severe flooding across Spain’s northeastern Catalonia region, disrupting transport, inundating homes and prompting thousands of emergency operations.
The storms began affecting parts of Catalonia on Saturday, October 3, with authorities issuing a red weather alert and urging residents to stay indoors as exceptionally heavy rain battered areas around Barcelona.
By Sunday, October 4, Catalan authorities confirmed two deaths and one person missing.
Catalan President Salvador Illa said a man died in Tordera, north of Barcelona, after a wall collapsed. Firefighters also reported another death in Montornès del Vallès, while emergency teams searched for a person reported missing in Pineda de Mar after apparently being swept away by a stream.
The heavy rainfall flooded homes, submerged vehicles and disrupted roads and rail services across several communities.
Authorities had earlier issued an emergency alert covering 20 counties, advising residents to suspend activities and avoid travel from 8pm on Saturday because of the dangerous weather conditions. The warning was initially expected to remain in effect until 2pm on Sunday.
Sarai Sarroca, director of Catalonia’s regional weather service, Meteocat, said the region was experiencing the effects of an “exceptional weather system” over the Mediterranean and warned that a “mini-hurricane” could move over land.
The storm caused widespread disruption, with flights cancelled or delayed at Barcelona airport, local train services suspended, shops closing early and football matches called off. A performance of Verdi’s Aida at Barcelona’s Liceu opera house was also cancelled.
Emergency services carried out thousands of operations as floodwaters spread across affected communities. Catalan authorities said firefighters conducted 2,440 operations, including 226 rescue missions, while the regional emergency telephone service received 8,151 calls, mainly relating to flooding, structural risks, rescues and traffic incidents.
The search for the missing person in Pineda de Mar was temporarily suspended on Sunday after firefighters and police searched the affected watercourse without success. Emergency teams resumed the search on Monday as authorities continued responding to the aftermath of the storm.
Illa said on Sunday that the worst of the storm had passed but urged residents to remain cautious. He called for efforts to focus on restoring damaged homes, public facilities and communication routes.
Spain’s State Meteorological Agency, AEMET, continued issuing weather warnings on Monday, with further heavy rainfall expected in parts of the country.
The Catalonia flooding came amid severe weather in other parts of Spain. In Castilla-La Mancha, a 102-year-old woman died on Saturday following heavy rain in a separate incident.
Authorities are now assessing damage to homes, infrastructure and transport networks as emergency services continue recovery and search operations across the affected areas.
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