HIBAPRESS – Agencies
Spanish rescue teams on Thursday, September 17, found the body of a man who was swept away by floods near Barcelona, while the eastern Mediterranean coast experienced heavy rains that flooded streets and disrupted transportation.
The Spanish Meteorological Agency issued warnings of heavy rains in eastern regions on Wednesday and temporarily raised the alert level to red in Barcelona due to the risk of floods.
Fire brigades in Catalonia said they found the body of a man in the town of Olivella, located about 40 kilometers west of Barcelona, explaining that the victim was driving a car that was swept away by the floods.
Authorities urged residents in the Catalonia and Valencia regions to avoid unnecessary travel and to exercise extreme caution, while Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez warned of "very complex" situations.
In Barcelona, some metro stations were closed and bus routes were diverted after water flooded the streets, while regional train services were disrupted and El Prat Airport experienced flight delays and cancellations.
Catalonia's emergency services announced receiving more than 850 calls related to the rains, resulting in over 500 incidents.
In the neighboring Valencia region, which experienced floods in 2024 that claimed the lives of more than 230 people, more than 70 millimeters of rain was recorded in just half an hour in several towns.
The Avamet meteorological monitoring agency said the region experienced exceptional rainfall rates in a record time.
In the city of Valencia, all metro lines were stopped, and floods closed the airport for hours, leading to the diversion of 12 flights.
In the southeast, more than 20 municipalities in Almería and the Murcia region suspended studies as a precautionary measure.
