The population of the Catalan municipality of Alcanar is affected. In 24 hours, 215 liters of rain fell per square meter.
Due to the strong storms that hit much of Spain, almost 10,000 people were not allowed to leave their homes and apartments on Sunday. The emergency service said an indefinite ban on exits had been imposed on the Catalan municipality of Alcanar, in the northeast of the country, due to the risk of serious flooding.
The population of Alcanar is advised to go to the upper floors of houses whenever possible. Rain of 215 liters per square meter fell there in just 24 hours. Rail services between Valencia and Barcelona have been suspended due to rain, Spanish railway company Renfe has announced.
Two men drowned
Spain has been hit by severe storms with heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong winds since Saturday, which were expected to last at least until Monday morning in some regions. The national meteorological service Aemet declared the highest red alert level for areas of Andalusia and Castile-La Mancha, as well as the capital Madrid. The main warning was heavy rain. Several rural roads had to be closed due to flooding and parks were closed. In Madrid, the top flight football game between Atlético and Sevilla FC on Sunday has been postponed at short notice.
The deaths of two men, aged 34 and 31, were attributed to Saturday’s bad weather. The two were practicing so-called canyoning – the sport climbing of a gorge – in a group of eight people in Zaragoza when, according to their companions, they fell into the running waters and drowned, as reported in the media, citing authorities.
On the popular tourist island of Mallorca, the situation remained calm despite a severe weather warning from the third highest level, yellow. According to the administrative authority Aena, there were delays of, on average, 50 minutes at Palma airport. It was said that no flights were canceled on Sunday. Several ferries connecting the Balearic Islands to the mainland have been cancelled. Mallorca was hit by Storm Betty last weekend, which led to chaotic conditions, especially at Palma’s Son Sant Joan airport. (APA/dpa)