Dutch holidaymakers seek help after Catalonia floods

Heavy rain flooded streets in and around Barcelona overnight into Sunday, 4 October, closing roads and disrupting travel across Catalonia. ANP reported the road closures citing Spanish media, including El País. [1]

In Barcelona’s El Raval district, 178.3 millimetres of rain fell in a day, according to figures attributed to the Catalan weather service Meteocat. It was the highest one-day total at that location since measurements began 20 years ago. Catalonia’s 112 emergency number received 2,151 weather-related calls by 23:00, about 1,400 of them concerning flooding. [1]

Medical emergency service SEM said 21 people needed assistance. Twelve were taken to a medical centre, and none was in a serious condition. Rodalies suspended most regional train services from Saturday evening, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded. The Red Cross helped passengers at Camp de Tarragona station. ANP also relayed El País reports of numerous delays at Barcelona-El Prat airport. [1]

The Catalan government urged residents to stay home and restricted non-essential travel in 20 areas until 14:00 on Sunday. [1]

Update

At a campsite in Tordera, about 55 kilometres north-east of Barcelona, a person died when a wall gave way in the rain and fell on them, local media reported, as relayed by ANP. A man died in Montornès, near Barcelona, when a low-lying garage suddenly filled with water. [2]

Rescue workers were searching for at least one person who disappeared in the fast-flowing Pineda stream. [2]

The severe weather was expected to ease on Sunday, but Catalonia’s premier, Salvador Illa, urged people to remain very cautious. [2]

Update

The ANWB emergency centre received eight reports from Dutch holidaymakers affected by the flooding around Barcelona, while four people contacted Eurocross, ANP reported on Sunday. The centres said none of the reports concerned personal injury. [3]