Heavy rain and floods disrupt transport across Spain

Heavy rain has drenched parts of Spain, resulting in the death of a man near Barcelona. Authorities advised residents in the Catalonia and Valencia regions to limit travel and exercise caution. The deluge struck as Spain experienced its hottest summer on record and an unusually warm September.

The national weather agency AEMET issued severe weather warnings in eastern regions, briefly raising Barcelona's alert level to the highest red alert due to the threat of flash floods. Catalan firefighters confirmed they found the body of a man who was driving a car swept away by a stream.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez warned of "very complicated situations" on social media, while mass telephone alerts were sent to residents in Catalonia, Valencia, and Almeria. Some metro stations in Barcelona were closed, buses were rerouted, and regional trains faced disruptions. Flights at Barcelona's El Prat airport were delayed or cancelled.

In Valencia, where the region has faced devastating floods in 2024 that claimed over 230 lives, weather monitors recorded more than 70mm of rain in a half-hour period. The emergency services dealt with over 850 calls related to the downpours, resulting in more than 500 incidents.

Football was also affected in Valencia as a top-tier match between Levante and Athletic Bilbao was postponed due to waterlogged conditions. Further south, multiple municipalities in Almeria and Murcia suspended classes as a precaution. Scientists attribute the intensification of Mediterranean storms hitting eastern Spain in autumn to climate change, as warmer seas lead to increased evaporation and heavier rainfall.