A man died after his car was carried off by floodwaters in Olivella, Barcelona. Emergency crews searched through the night. Authorities warn that more storms are expected and risks remain high.
Emergency crews in Olivella, Barcelona, have found the body of a man whose car was swept away by a sudden flood. The search began late Wednesday night and ended in the early morning, when the man was found about 500 meters from where his car was last seen. Police confirmed he was the driver. Firefighters, an underwater rescue team, and drones all took part in the search. According to official statements, the man was carried away by the floodwaters along with his car, as reported by several independent media outlets.
The incident started when a witness called authorities at 23:03 to report a car being swept off the road by floodwaters in the Garraf area. Eleven fire service units, including the GRAESub underwater team, responded quickly. The car was found first, but the driver was missing until the overnight search led to his discovery. Early reports also mentioned a possible search for a woman in Olivella, reflecting the confusion and fast-changing situation during the first hours of the emergency.
Protecció Civil sent ES-Alert warnings to multiple districts, including Barcelonès, Maresme, Baix Llobregat, Garraf, and Penedès, due to the risk of severe rain, hail up to 2 cm, and wind gusts exceeding 90 km/h.
Severe weather warnings were already in place for the area. The Servei Meteorològic de Catalunya issued its highest level alert for violent storms, and the Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (Aemet) declared a red alert for torrential rain along the Barcelona coast. Rainfall topped 90 liters per square meter in less than an hour, causing flash floods and major disruption. Roads like the B-20 (Ronda de Dalt) in Santa Coloma de Gramenet were closed, and other highways faced flooding and power cuts. According to AEMET and Meteocat, these were the highest risk alerts for the region.
So far, authorities have not reported other deaths or missing people linked to the storm. Still, the risk remains high. Civil Protection has warned that hailstones larger than 2 centimeters and wind gusts over 90 kilometers per hour could hit several Barcelona districts in the coming hours. Residents are urged to avoid unnecessary travel, follow official instructions, and call 112 if in danger. The storm has caused not only local incidents in Olivella but also widespread flooding, power outages, and road closures across the Barcelona metropolitan area.
Spain has faced repeated problems with extreme weather in recent years. As reported earlier, major investments have been made to strengthen flood defenses in other vulnerable regions. The events in Olivella show how exposed Catalonia’s infrastructure remains to sudden, violent storms and the need for rapid emergency response.
This was not an isolated incident: independent publications reported flooding, power outages, and road closures throughout the Barcelona area, including major routes like the B-20/Ronda de Dalt and other highways, as the storm affected a wide region beyond Olivella.
Independent media reports
With storm warnings still active until late Wednesday, the situation in Barcelona and Girona remains tense. Torrential rain, blocked roads, and power cuts highlight the real risks residents face during these weather events. The quick response by emergency services in Olivella shows the value of coordinated action, but the outcome is a reminder that even well-prepared teams cannot always prevent tragedy when faced with severe weather. For now, the priority in Catalonia is to stay alert, follow safety advice, and make sure residents take official warnings seriously as the region continues to deal with extreme weather.
