Floodwaters tore through Catalonia overnight, killing two people and leaving one missing. Meteorologists described the storm as having “tropical” features. Tordera and Montornès del Vallès, both in Barcelona province, were hardest hit, as streets and homes filled with water within minutes. Reuters and Euronews reported that a man died in Tordera when a wall collapsed; another death was reported in Montornès del Vallès. In Pineda de Mar, search teams are still looking for a person swept away by the floods.
By Sunday afternoon, movement bans had been lifted in most of the 20 affected comarcas. Restrictions remained in Alt Empordà and Baix Empordà until at least 21:00 because of flood risks and swollen rivers. Rail lines on the Rodalies network stopped running, and at least eight schools said they would remain closed on Monday because of heavy damage. Catalan News reported that local officials maintained movement bans in the worst-hit areas, where rivers still threatened to overflow.
Meteorological agency Meteocat had issued red-level warnings, forecasting more than 90 mm of rain in just three hours and, in some locations, more than 200 mm during the storm episode. ARA reported that some areas in northeastern Catalonia recorded several hundred millimeters of rainfall, setting historic hydrological records and sharply raising the level of the Besòs river.
Emergency crews worked nonstop, rescuing people and assisting with evacuations as the rain continued. The Red Cross said it helped more than 4,000 people during the worst hours. Floodwater forced the Hospital Comarcal de la Selva to move patients out of its emergency area. The search for a young man in the riera of Pineda de Mar continues. EFE and Reuters reported that fire and rescue teams remain in the area, searching and helping as the weather calms.
Officials are urging people to stay alert. Most restrictions have been lifted, but flood threats persist in the northeast. Repairs will take time, after the storm disrupted transport and public services within hours. Reuters and Euronews reported severe disruption to public transport, while hospitals in flood zones had to evacuate patients. Several facilities remain closed.
The Mediterranean has seen severe weather before. Recent reports described record storms that narrowly missed Valencia; this time, Catalonia took the full hit. The storm exposed weaknesses in local infrastructure and emergency plans.
The storm left two people dead and one still missing, while thousands were forced from their homes or left with flooded property. Catalonia’s ordeal has renewed calls for better preparation and stronger systems as extreme weather becomes an immediate challenge for the region.
