Two missing, flooding, and all trains stopped: the effects of the storm in Catalonia

BarcelonaThe afternoon of downpours ended with two people missing, dozens of flooded streets, low-lying streets, rivers in flood, and train services halted for more than three hours across Catalonia. These were the direct consequences of the storms that swept through Catalonia this Saturday afternoon from the south and northeast. Currently, 18 firefighters on land, as well as underwater, are working to locate two people in Cubelles. The security force believes they may have been swept away by the Foix River, which burst its banks near the town. The firefighters explained that the alert did not come through 112, but rather a person alerted the fire department on the scene directly.

This is, to date, the most serious consequence of the storm that hit Catalonia this afternoon. The heaviest rainfall began at midday in the Terres de l'Ebre and Ponent regions, and as the hours passed, it spread across the country, first reaching Camp de Tarragona and Central Catalonia, and then the Barcelona area and northeastern regions.

The storms were particularly torrential and lasted longer in regions such as Bages, Anoia, Baix and Alt Penedès, and parts of the Terres de l'Ebre region. Many of these areas recorded rainfall between 50 and 100 l/m², and in some cases, more than 40 l/m² fell in just half an hour. All this was accompanied by strong winds and some hail or hailstorms.

The 102 l/m² accumulated at the Canaletes station (Alt Penedès) by Meteocat stands out, the wettest day in 23 years of records at this location. A lot of water in a short period of time has caused significant flooding and flash floods of rivers and streams, such as the Cardener River as it passes through Súria (Bages), which has swept away cars.

Aside from the Foix, rivers such as the Llobregat and the Muga have also risen significantly, forcing the ACA (Association of Local Authorities) to activate the danger level. However, in areas such as the northern region of Lleida and between the northern coast of Barcelona and the Costa Brava, there has been little rain.

All of this has been the effect of a pocket of cold air that has fully crossed the country. Colliding with the accumulated heat and humidity, this small DANA has caused severe storms and downpours everywhere. In its wake, the rains have left a trail of flooding and mud. In Calafell, for example, residents have taken to the streets to try to clear the trapped water, which had turned some of the town's streets into veritable rivers.

During the afternoon, the 112 emergency teams received more than a thousand calls, concentrated mainly between 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., when up to 301 alerts were registered, the majority originating in the southern metropolitan region. By municipality, Vilanova i la Geltrú and Vilafranca del Penedès are two of the municipalities that have suffered the most from the effects of the rain. Vilanova has received 53 calls and Vilafranca, 35. The Vilafranca hospital has suffered flooding in its lower floors: the hospital's laboratories were severely damaged. For much of the afternoon, the emergency room was unable to operate normally, and it finally had to close at 7:30 p.m. Patients have been distributed to other centers. Similar events have also occurred in Igualada, Súria, and Solsona.

In the mid-afternoon, the President of the Generalitat (Catalan government), Salvador Illa, convened the crisis committee to monitor the status and progress of the storm in Catalonia. All emergency officials, the Meteorological Service of Catalonia, Meteocat, regional delegates, and councilors involved were summoned to the meeting. In a message on the social network X Isla, he urged "maximum caution."

Commuter trains, stopped

The downpour has also severely affected mobility throughout the country. Renfe has decided to halt train service throughout Catalonia for safety reasons and in accordance with Civil Protection recommendations. This has affected commuter and regional trains, medium- and long-distance trains, and also high-speed trains, causing overcrowding at various stations, particularly Barcelona Sants Station, one of which has been kept open to provide shelter for passengers. The outage lasted just over three hours, and as of 7:00 p.m., with the weather improving, trains have gradually resumed service.

The rains have also affected roads. According to the Catalan Traffic Service (SCT), the N-340 at Santa Margarida and Els Monjos has been closed in both directions; the C-17 has lost its northbound lane due to fallen trees; And on the AP-7, queues of more than 9 kilometers have been generated between Olèrdola and Castellet and Gornal, due to the presence of vehicles stopped on the hard shoulder. There have also been landslides on the TV-3301 in Prat de Comte and the C-16z in Puig-reig, which have also been closed.

Leisure and culture affected

After receiving mobile phone alerts from Civil Protection warning of the maximum alert, several city councils, organizations, and institutions have decided to suspend their cultural and leisure activities. Barcelona City Council, for example, activated the Municipal Emergency Action Plan in response to the forecast of heavy rains in the city and suspended all planned outdoor activities. The Tibidabo amusement park, the Zoo, and Park Güell have also been closed.

The ban on outdoor activities has also directly affected all local festivals and cultural events, on a summer weekend packed with events. Several festivals, such as Cruïlla, have postponed or rescheduled concerts and shows, while others, such as the Porta Ferrada Festival and the Peralada Festival, have had to cancel concerts and refund ticket prices to customers.

This Sunday, the weather will be radically different, with plenty of sunshine and calm, and only a few light afternoon showers in the Pyrenees and Pre-Pyrenees.