Overview
- Heavy storms that struck on 16–17 September swept streets and underpasses, closed metro lines and stalled regional trains while airports diverted or cancelled dozens of flights.
- Authorities confirmed the death of a 48-year-old British man whose car was swept away near Olivella; police called the incident a tragic accident and consular assistance has been offered.
- Catalan emergency services logged more than 850 calls and over 500 incidents, and Valencia reported about 478 weather-related incidents as rescue teams used boats, drones and diving units.
- Spain’s meteorological service AEMET and regional monitor Avamet issued red, orange and yellow alerts and recorded extreme rates of rain, including over 70 mm in 30 minutes and localized totals near 120 mm in an hour.
- The storms followed Spain’s hottest summer on record, exposing vulnerabilities in coastal and tourist areas and prompting officials to extend warnings to Benidorm, Ibiza, Magaluf and other holiday destinations.