A powerful overnight storm in Granollers forced emergency crews to rescue people trapped in their vehicles after flash floods submerged key roads. No injuries have been reported, but the incident highlights the growing risks of extreme weather in Catalonia.
Granollers woke to chaos before sunrise. Rain hammered the city. In minutes, a roundabout turned into a deep pool. Several drivers got stuck. Some had to climb onto their car roofs as water kept rising. Bombers de la Generalitat rushed to the scene. They pulled people out fast.
The first emergency call came at 05:10. Local streams spilled over. Roads vanished under water. Emergency sources told EFE that crews focused on getting everyone out right away. No one was hurt. That was a relief.
On the same days, Barcelona activated its municipal emergency plan for flood risk, and residents were officially advised not to drive into flooded areas or remain in vehicles if water levels became dangerous.
The storm didn’t just hit Granollers. In L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, firefighters faced a different crisis. Water built up on a terrace. Part of a ceiling collapsed in a single-family home. Four people had to be evacuated from the ground floor. This happened on Pasaje de la Concepció. One night of rain was enough to cause real damage.
Granollers got lucky. The worst was over by morning. But Spain has seen more of these emergencies lately. In Albacete, a flash flood killed one person and forced dozens of rescues, as reported earlier. These aren’t isolated events. Weather is getting wilder. Local infrastructure and emergency teams are under pressure.
According to official weather bulletins from early October, Catalonia was under maximum (red) alert for torrential rain, with some areas receiving over 200–250 mm of precipitation and authorities restricting non-essential movement in several counties due to the risk of flash floods.
Speed made the difference in Granollers. Bombers de la Generalitat worked fast. No one was injured. That matters. Catalonia is seeing more heavy rain. Emergency services have to keep up. One storm can change everything in minutes. Cities and residents need to be ready. The message is clear.
