Spain battered by new floods as heavy rains lash Catalonia, stranding residents and drivers

MADRID, Oct 13 — Torrential rain swept across Spain’s north-eastern Catalonia region yesterday, triggering severe floods that trapped residents in vehicles and homes, just a day after heavy downpours caused travel chaos on the Mediterranean island of Ibiza.

Videos shared by local media showed torrents of muddy water racing through streets, engulfing cars and sweeping away debris.

Spain’s national weather agency, AEMET, issued its highest red alert for the province of Tarragona, warning that up to 180 millimetres of rain could fall within 12 hours in the Ebro River delta.

Catalan fire service spokesperson Oriol Corbella said many people were caught off guard, finding themselves trapped “in vehicles, buildings, and on ground floors.”

In the town of Santa Barbara, Mayor Josep Lluis Gimeno described the situation as “very tense” as rainfall intensified overnight. “Local streams and ravines have completely overflowed, flooding the town centre and sweeping away everything — containers, cars, you name it,” he told regional broadcaster 3Cat.

In nearby Godall, Mayor Alexis Albiol called it “a moment of chaos,” saying: “All the cars parked near the ravine were carried away and scattered across the village. No one here remembers seeing this much rain fall in such a short time.”

Regional weather agency Meteocat reported that a station in Mas de Barberans recorded nearly 272 millimetres of rain over the weekend. Despite the extensive flooding, there were no reports of injuries or missing persons.

The heavy rainfall also brought major transport disruptions. National railway company Renfe suspended all train services along the Mediterranean corridor between Barcelona and Valencia until further notice. Emergency services were seen rescuing stranded motorists from a flooded motorway near the town of Amposta.

Catalan emergency authorities reported a surge in distress calls — nearly 1,000 received after 5pm — and extended mobile alerts across a 100-kilometre stretch along the coast, urging residents to stay indoors and away from waterways.

Catalonia’s regional leader, Salvador Illa, announced that schools, sports, and community activities would be suspended today in five of the hardest-hit regions, advising people to avoid travel and work from home.

The storm followed days of heavy rain across eastern Spain. While Valencia, which endured the country’s deadliest floods in decades last year, escaped major damage this time, some towns still cancelled classes and outdoor events amid new warnings.

Meanwhile, the island of Ibiza suffered its second round of flooding in two weeks as the storm system moved northward across the Mediterranean after lashing southeastern Spain.

Experts warn that climate change is amplifying the frequency and severity of such floods, as a warming atmosphere and hotter Mediterranean waters increase evaporation and the potential for extreme rainfall. — AFP