Barcelona, Sep 17: Torrential rain battered Barcelona and surrounding areas in northeastern Spain, triggering severe flooding, a red weather alert and widespread disruption to transport, while emergency services searched for a woman feared to have been swept away by floodwaters.
Spain’s state weather agency AEMET issued a red alert for Barcelona’s coastline over the risk of flash floods as intense rainfall submerged streets and disrupted normal life across the region.
Rescue workers attempted to reach a vehicle trapped inside a flooded tunnel, where rising water completely covered the roadway.
Emergency services were also searching for a woman believed to have been swept away by water along a stream near Olivella, around 40 km west of Barcelona.
“She was in a vehicle, and it seems she tried to get out,” a senior official told local television.
The downpour disrupted public transport in Barcelona, with some metro stations closed and buses diverted. Regional train services were also affected, while flights at Barcelona’s El Prat airport faced delays and cancellations.
Catalan emergency services said they received more than 850 calls related to the heavy rain, resulting in over 500 incidents.
The storms also affected neighbouring Valencia, which suffered devastating floods in 2024 that killed more than 230 people. Weather monitor Avamet recorded more than 70 mm of rain in just 30 minutes in several municipalities.
“Rarely have we seen such large rainfall accumulations in 30 minutes as the one we’ve had today in Valencia and nearby areas,” Avamet said on X.
Emergency services reported 478 incidents in Valencia province, mainly involving property damage, leaks and traffic disruption.
In Valencia city, all metro lines were suspended and flooding forced the city’s airport to close for several hours. Airport operator Aena said 12 flights were diverted.
A top-flight football match between Levante and Athletic Bilbao was also postponed after the pitch became waterlogged and floodwater seeped into the players’ tunnel.
Authorities issued mass telephone alerts to residents in parts of Catalonia, Valencia and Almeria, urging people to exercise caution and avoid unnecessary travel.
The latest storms came after Spain recorded its hottest summer on record and an exceptionally warm start to September.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez warned of “very complicated situations” as the heavy rain continued.
