Spain floods: Two people missing as torrential rainfall strike Spain; warnings issued in 25 provinces
Extreme weather conditions continue to rock Europe as severe floods and thunderstorms have struck popular holiday destinations in Spain, while Britain experiences another heatwave over the weekend.
Two people were missing on Saturday after torrential rain and floods hit Catalonia, in northeastern Spain, reports DW.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez urged people to practice 'great caution' and 'avoid travelling' amid the intense downpour.
'Very attentive to the situation in several communities with warnings for heavy rain and storms. Personnel from @/UMEgob are already collaborating in municipalities of the Riberta Alta del Ebro.
Follow civil protection instructions and avoid travel. Take great caution,' his post on X read.
Spain was hit with severe storms and hail alerts after 100mm of rain fell in just one hour at a popular tourist spot. Locals and visitors faced disruption as the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) issued weather warnings across 25 provinces, including eight under the more serious orange alert, as reported by The Sun.
AEMET placed Huesca, Teruel, Barcelona, Zaragoza, Girona, Lleida, Tarragona, Castellón under orange alerts for intense storms.
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The Ebro riverbank in Tarazona of Zaragoza province was hit with nearly 100mm of rainfall in just an hour on Friday and was subsequently put on red alert.
The agency warned that up to 50 litres of rain per square metre could fall across much of Aragon and Catalonia, potentially triggering local flooding and causing ravines to overflow.
No casualties have been reported as of yet but local rescue teams have been notified of 30 flood-related incidents with blocked roads and vehicles being swept away.
On Saturday, Renfe, Spain's rail company, temporarily halted operations across Catalonia on Saturday, reported DW.
In October last year, flash floods claimed the lives of over 205 people in the Valencia region of Spain. The rain storm, similar to the one currently ongoing in the country, is caused by a weather phenomenon known as DANA in Spanish or 'cold drop' (Isolated Depression at High Levels), where a mass of cold air descends over the warmer Mediterranean waters.
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