Catalonia on alert as red warnings issued for torrential rain

Catalonia’s leader Salvador Illa on Saturday urged residents to take precautions as weather agencies issued red alerts for torrential rain and warned that a “Mediterranean mini-hurricane” could form in the northeastern Spanish region.

“I urge maximum caution given the weather forecasts: a Mediterranean mini-hurricane could form in Catalonia,” Illa wrote on “X”. He said rain was already affecting much of the region and that authorities would announce measures to follow.

Illa advised people to avoid unnecessary travel, keep away from rivers, streams and ravines, and not park in areas at risk of flooding.

Forecasters warn of extreme rainfall

Spain’s weather agency AEMET said rainfall could exceed 90 millimetres (3.5 inches) in an hour and 200 millimetres (7.9 inches) in less than six hours in parts of Barcelona and Girona provinces.

The agency forecast particularly severe conditions on Saturday night and during the first half of Sunday, warning of possible flooding and rising rivers under its highest-level red alert. Catalonia’s weather service, “Meteocat”, issued red warnings for 17 districts on Saturday, expanding them to 20 on Sunday as the danger level rose from five to six, the maximum on its scale.

Events suspended as flooding concerns grow

Authorities suspended sporting competitions in the 20 affected districts from Saturday evening until Sunday afternoon. The regional culture department also suspended outdoor cultural activities, the local daily La Vanguardia reported.

A housing protest planned in Barcelona for Saturday was postponed until Monday evening because of the weather warnings. A parallel demonstration in Madrid drew about 70,000 people, according to authorities.

Barcelona activated its municipal emergency plan amid concerns that drainage systems could be overwhelmed. Rain had already forced the closure of one platform at Liceu metro station and some entrances at other stations.

“Meteocat” officials warned that conditions could deteriorate sharply in the coming hours and that the rainfall could become an “exceptional” event.

Fatal flooding reported in Albacete province

The warnings came a day after a 102-year-old woman died and around 90 people were rescued when flooding struck Madrigueras, in southeastern Spain’s Albacete province.

The town recorded 142 millimetres (5.6 inches) of rain, according to the Castilla-La Mancha regional government, as cited by public broadcaster RTVE. Water reached a depth of one metre (3.2 feet) inside the home where the woman died; most of the rescues involved people trapped in flooded homes.