Civil protection recommends restricting mobility due to the risk of a Mediterranean hurricane

BarcelonaAbout twenty Catalan counties are at a maximum danger level due to heavy rainfall, especially on the coast and pre-coast of Tarragona, Barcelona, and Girona, where there is a risk of "a Mediterranean mini-hurricane." It is a meteorological phenomenon called a mesoscale convective system that, in addition to intense rainfall, can be accompanied by very strong winds, tornadoes, or waterspouts, warned Santi Segalà, head of the Prediction Area of the Meteorological Service of Catalonia. For this reason, Civil Protection is asking to restrict mobility between eight o'clock this Saturday evening and two o'clock on Sunday afternoon. This affects activities such as, for example, the human towers contest or the large demonstration planned for this afternoon in defense of the right to housing, which the Tenants' Union has already suspended and postponed until Monday.

"We are facing a meteorological episode that could be exceptional," warned Segalà. The Meteocat warning affects this Saturday the counties of Alt and Baix Empordà, Pla de l'Estany, Garrotxa, Gironès, Selva, Maresme, Vallès Oriental and Occidental, Barcelonès, Baix Llobregat, Garraf, Alt Penedès, Baix Penedès, Alt Camp, Tarragonès, Baix Camp, Moianès, Osona, and Ripollès. The deputy director of Civil Protection, Imma Solé, has informed that this afternoon an Es-Alert will be sent to mobile phones to explain the situation to citizens.

The director of Meteocat, Sara Sarroca, has warned that the "situation could become complicated" in the coming hours, with large accumulations of water. The Ebro Hydrographic Confederation (CHE) has intensified surveillance in view of the forecast of heavy rains in different parts of the basin and has warned of the possibility of sudden rises in ravines and minor riverbeds during this afternoon and tonight. For all these reasons, Solé has insisted on avoiding travel and activities that could put citizens at risk. "Let us be aware that now is not the time to carry them out," she said.

Postponed demonstration

Given this scenario, the Tenants' Union has already postponed the demonstration that was to be held this Saturday afternoon in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat. The mobilization will finally take place on Monday, at 7 p.m., and it also changes location: it will take place at Plaça Urquinaona in Barcelona. The initial call was planned for Plaça Pius XII in L'Hospitalet, with columns from Barcelona, Badalona, Cerdanyola, Terrassa, Sabadell, the Maresme and the R2 south line. The organizers had planned it as a central demonstration in Catalonia, following the rejection of the two decrees this Friday in Congress.