Heavy storms in Catalonia triggered a major rescue effort in Olivella, Garraf, after a woman was swept away by floodwaters late Wednesday night. Emergency crews sent 11 fire brigade units and drones to search the swollen riera where she disappeared. They are concentrating on the spot where she was last seen trying to escape her stranded car before the current carried her away.
The alarm was raised at 23:03, when a witness reported that the woman had left her immobilized car and was immediately caught by rising water. The Generalitat’s Fire Brigade arrived within minutes and coordinated with Mossos d’Esquadra and other emergency teams to intensify the search. Joan Ramon Cabello, deputy director of Civil Protection, confirmed that the search was still underway. Protección Civil said the woman was trapped in her car after it became stuck in the flood, then was swept away when she tried to get out on foot.
Civil Protection sent ES-Alert emergency notifications to mobile phones in affected Catalan regions because of the risk of flash floods and heavy rain.
As the rescue continued, the storm’s impact spread across the Barcelona area. Civil Protection sent an ES-Alert warning to mobile phones in several counties about the risk of sudden surges in rivers and streams. Heavy rain prompted nearly 200 emergency calls about water buildup and transport problems, including blocked roads. Rail service between Fabra i Puig and Montcada Bifurcació was suspended, while thousands of Barcelona residents lost power as the storm overwhelmed local infrastructure.
Emergency line 112 received 644 calls about 445 separate incidents, most of them in Barcelona and nearby counties. The search in Olivella shows the direct danger these conditions pose as emergency teams race against time and the elements. Spanish news agencies reported that calls and incidents continued to rise as the storm went on, with later updates citing 859 calls and 544 incidents.
Meteorological and civil-protection coverage indicated that authorities had issued advance warnings about the intense rainfall and the potential for conditions to worsen. The decision to send ES-Alert notifications, but, depended on the assessed level of danger in each area. The storm also caused impressive transport disruptions and widespread power outages in Barcelona and nearby municipalities.
Protección Civil de la Generalitat
While the search in Garraf continues, the storm has shown how easily severe weather can disrupt transport and utility networks. Emergency services face pressures similar to those seen in other crises, including the challenges described in the recent investigation into Ceuta’s overcrowded child protection system. Both cases point to the need for stronger infrastructure and rapid coordination to protect vulnerable people during emergencies. As Catalonia recovers, the response will be judged by the outcome of the search in Olivella and the region’s preparations for future storms.
