Torrential rain and flooding leave 2 dead and 1 missing in Spain's Catalonia region

Torrential rain and flooding have resulted in two fatalities and one person still missing in Spain's Catalonia region, according to reports. The extreme weather event forced authorities to issue warnings of extreme danger in parts of Barcelona and Girona, as rivers risked overflowing. One individual perished when a wall collapsed at a campsite in Tordera, while another drowned in a flooded garage in Montornes del Valles.

Emergency services are currently searching for a missing person in Pineda de Mar, located about 32 miles north of Barcelona. Regional leader Salvador Illa has advised residents to exercise the greatest caution and follow emergency service instructions. Over 100 millimeters of rain fell overnight in various locations. Civil protection authorities sent alerts to residents near the Besos River, urging them to move to higher floors if flooding occurred.

Homes were flooded, vehicles submerged, and local rail services disrupted. Flights at Barcelona airport were either canceled or delayed, leading to shops closing early and the cancellation of sporting and cultural events. The storms are associated with a weather phenomenon known as a DANA, a cold drop that occurs when cold air meets warm, moisture-laden air, producing intense thunderstorms.

The latest flooding follows a previous catastrophic event in 2024 that killed 238 people in eastern Spain, with a study linking the rainfall to human-caused climate change.