Spain – Deadly Floods in Catalonia After 25cm of Rain in 24 Hours

by in Europe, News

One man has died in Barcelona Province, Spain, after torrential rain and flooding across Catalonia that began yesterday, 12 October.

The worst hit area was the comarca (county) of Maresme. Streets were turned to raging rivers in Argentona, Vilassar de Mar and Cabrils. The flood water has caused damage to homes and some roads. Cars were swept along streets, in some cases as far as the sea. Local media say that the victim died in Vilassar de Mar, which lies about 30 km north west of Barcelona, when his car was dragged away by fast moving water from an overflowing stream.

According to Servei Meteorològic de Catalunya (Meteocat), 257 mm of rain fell in 24 hours between 12 and 13 October in Vilassar de Mar. Over 234 mm fell in Cabrils, Maresme comarca (county) during the same period. In fact at least 7 locations in Catalonia recorded more than 100 mm in 24 hours.

The heaviest of the rain fell between 23:00 on 12 October and 07:00 13 October. During this time firefighters attended 39 flood related incidents and emergency services received around 800 calls from residents in Maresme.

Earlier today the Civil Protection Agency in Catalonia activated the flood emergency alert: l’ALERTA del Pla Especial d’Emergències per Inundacions a Catalunya (INUNCAT).

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