Two people killed in Catalonia floods — Cyprus Mail

Two people have died in Catalonia in northeastern Spain as a result of heavy rain and flooding, while rescue services are searching for another person. Cyprus Mail reports, citing local authorities.

Deaths and search for a missing person

Catalan leader Salvador Illa confirmed the death of a man in the town of Tordera, north of Barcelona. According to him, the man died when a wall collapsed.

Another person died in Montornès del Vallès, firefighters said. Meanwhile, emergency services were searching for a person who went missing in the town of Pineda de Mar, located about 52 kilometres north of Barcelona.

More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.

Flooding and transport disruptions

Catalan authorities declared a red alert and urged residents to stay at home from 20:00 on Saturday until 14:00 on Sunday. The decision was made because a so-called mini-hurricane could make landfall in Spain's northeastern region, where further heavy rain was also forecast.

Head of the regional Meteocat weather service Sarai Sarroca said that the core of the exceptional weather system was over the Mediterranean Sea and could move into Catalonia. Homes were flooded and cars ended up underwater in the Bellvitge and Cornellà areas near Barcelona.

The heavy rain also disrupted all local train services. Flights at Barcelona airport were cancelled or delayed, shops closed early, football matches were cancelled, as was a performance of Giuseppe Verdi's opera Aida at the Liceu Theatre.