Emergency crews in Catalonia are searching for a woman missing in Olivella, Barcelona, after floodwaters swept her away during a night of heavy storms. The incident has intensified the region's response as authorities deal with a surge in weather-related emergencies.
Within hours, Protección Civil activated the ES-Alert system, sending mobile phone warnings to the Barcelonés and Maresme areas about hailstones larger than two centimeters and the risk of torrential rain. Similar alerts soon reached Baix Llobregat, Garraf, Alt and Baix Penedès, and Vallès Occidental as the storm moved along the Barcelona coast. Protección Civil and Meteocat said the alerts were prompted by the immediate threat of flash floods and severe weather, not routine conditions.
Joan Ramon Cabello, deputy director of prevention at Protección Civil de la Generalitat, said search teams were focused on Olivella after a report that a woman had been swept away while crossing a stream. Cabello said she was likely carried away after leaving her vehicle during the overflow. The Generalitat reported 859 calls related to the storm and logged 544 separate incidents in just a few hours. Meteocat expects intense rain to continue along the coast for several more hours.
The storms have also hit Murcia, where authorities have closed schools in 15 of the region's 45 municipalities. The closures affect students and staff in non-university education, vocational training, music conservatories, language schools, and adult education centers. The regional government, led by Fernando López Miras, made the decision after the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) raised the orange alert for rainfall of up to 50 liters per square meter in one hour across the Valle del Guadalentín, Lorca, Águilas, Campo de Cartagena, and Mazarrón. Early care centers, day centers, and social facilities for the elderly and disabled are also closed to reduce travel and protect vulnerable groups. Forecasts predict up to 100 liters of rain in 12 hours in some areas.
President Pedro Sánchez addressed the situation on X, urging people to stay cautious and follow official advice as storms continue to create dangerous conditions, especially in Catalunya and the Comunitat Valenciana. He called for vigilance as emergency services manage the effects of the extreme weather.
Recent weather swings in Spain have already forced regional authorities to adapt quickly, as earlier reports from Zaragoza show. The current crisis in Catalonia and Murcia is straining emergency services and disrupting daily life, from school closures to interruptions in social services.
