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One Dead as Spain's East Coast Hit by Storms
17 Sep
Summary
- Torrential rain and flash floods struck north-eastern Spain.
- One person died after their car was swept away by a stream.
- Travel disruptions occurred across Catalonia and Valencia.
Torrential rain and flash floods have battered north-eastern Spain, leading to one death and significant disruptions. A man was tragically found deceased in Olivella after his car was swept away by a swollen stream, authorities confirmed.
Emergency services in Catalonia reported over 850 calls and 500 incidents related to the downpours. Firefighters recovered the man's body in Olivella, west of Barcelona. The extreme weather submerged roads and disrupted vital transport links.
Flights were cancelled and delayed at El Prat airport in Barcelona, while regional trains faced disruptions. Some metro stations in Barcelona were closed, and buses were diverted. Similar chaos unfolded in Valencia, where certain municipalities recorded over 70mm of rain in just half an hour.
In Valencia, metro lines were suspended, and the city's airport temporarily closed, diverting flights. Emergency services in the Valencia province managed 478 incidents, primarily property damage and traffic issues.
This event follows a record-breaking hot summer and a warm start to September in Spain. Scientists suggest that human-driven climate change is exacerbating Mediterranean storms typically seen in autumn. The Mediterranean Sea's increased heat absorption during summer contributes to more intense rainfall when storms develop. This flooding incident occurs less than two years after devastating floods in Valencia claimed over 230 lives.
