Catalonia flooding k!lls two, leaves one missing after torrential rain

Two people have died and another remains missing after torrential rain triggered severe flooding across Spain’s northeastern Catalonia region.

The storms, which began on Saturday, October 3, caused widespread flooding around Barcelona and other parts of the region, disrupting roads and rail services, flooding homes and forcing thousands of emergency operations.

Catalan President Salvador Illa confirmed that a man died in Tordera, north of Barcelona, after a wall collapsed. Firefighters also reported the death of another person in Montornès del Vallès.

Emergency teams were searching for another person reported missing in Pineda de Mar after they were apparently swept away by a stream.

The heavy rainfall also submerged vehicles, affected flights at Barcelona airport and forced the cancellation of local train services and football matches. A performance of Verdi’s Aida at Barcelona’s Liceu opera house was also cancelled.

Catalan authorities had issued a red weather alert across 20 counties and urged residents to suspend travel and outdoor activities because of the severity of the storm.

Firefighters carried out 2,440 operations, including 226 rescue services, while the regional emergency telephone service received 8,151 calls, mainly concerning flooding, structural risks, rescues and traffic incidents.

The search for the missing person was temporarily suspended on Sunday after firefighters and police searched the affected watercourse without success. Emergency teams resumed the search on Monday as authorities continued to assess the damage.

Illa said the worst of the storm had passed but urged residents to remain cautious as further intense rainfall was expected in some areas.

“Now it is time to focus all efforts on the reconstruction of homes, public facilities and communication routes to recover normality as soon as possible,” he said.

The flooding came as other parts of Spain also experienced severe weather. In Castilla-La Mancha, a 102-year-old woman died on Saturday following heavy rain in a separate incident.

Authorities are continuing to assess damage to homes, public infrastructure and transport networks as emergency services respond to the aftermath of the storm.