Severe flooding caused by torrential rainfall in northeastern Spain has left at least seven people injured and forced emergency evacuations, officials said.
Three people sustained injuries when a wall collapsed in the port of Roda de Bera, located about 75 kilometers southwest of Barcelona, according to emergency services. Four other individuals were taken to the hospital following separate rain related incidents during the overnight storm.
Among those hospitalized were two people injured when another wall collapsed at a campsite in Roda de Bera. The campsite was evacuated during the storm as floodwaters rose.
Rescues and flooded coastal towns
Firefighters carried out more than 200 operations across affected areas as heavy rain inundated coastal communities. Rescuers extracted people from vehicles trapped in rising water.
In the coastal town of El Vendrell, torrential downpours submerged the beach under more than half a meter of water. Catalan public television reported that several roads were also flooded in neighboring Coma-ruga and Torredembarra.
Roda de Bera, El Vendrell, Torredembarra, and Coma-ruga are coastal municipalities located in the province of Tarragona within Catalonia, an autonomous region in northeastern Spain. Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, lies 75 kilometers to the northeast along the Mediterranean coast.
Heatwave background and previous storms
The sudden heavy rainfall marks a major weather shift for Spain following a prolonged period of severe summer weather. Between June 1 and August 19, Spain recorded nearly 4,500 heat related deaths during intense heatwaves.
The overnight storm in Catalonia struck one week after torrential rain caused severe flooding and landslides in northwestern Spain, killing two women.
Spain frequently experiences severe weather transitions, where intense summer heat is followed by heavy coastal rainstorms. Local emergency teams remain active across Catalonia to monitor flooded streets and clear damaged areas.
