Catalonia restricts mobility as torrential rains hit region

Catalonia imposed a mobility restriction across 20 counties on Saturday evening as torrential rains battered the north-eastern Spanish region. The measure, in force from 20:00 Saturday until 14:00 Sunday, affects coastal and pre-coastal areas of Barcelona and Tarragona, all of Girona province, plus Osona and Moianès.

Regional president Salvador Illa urged residents to stay home, calling the situation exceptional after chairing the Inuncat flood plan meeting. Civil Protection sent mobile alerts to the affected zones and later issued a second alert for Vallès Oriental, Maresme, Selva, Baix Empordà and Gironès as the storm shifted north-east.

“The situation is exceptional and requires maximum prudence.”

Rainfall reached nearly 300 litres per square metre in Cornellà, with similar volumes recorded in Premià de Mar, Barcelona's Les Corts district, Granollers, Mataró and Cabrils. The Besòs river is reported to be practically at its limit.

Public transport came to a near standstill. Rodalies suspended almost all lines, keeping only RL3, RL4 and R16 running, while Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat cancelled services entirely. Regional trains stopped at 20:00 and metro services ran only until midnight. High-speed AVE services were cut between Figueres and Barcelona.

Barcelona airport recorded 196 cancelled flights and 480 delayed flights according to Flight Radar. The housing protest planned for Saturday in Barcelona and L'Hospitalet de Llobregat was postponed to Monday.

Emergency services handled 1,143 incidents by 08:00 Sunday, including the rescue of nearly 30 drivers trapped in vehicles in Granollers and collapsed retaining walls in Alella. Interior councillor Núria Parlon reiterated the call to avoid travel as river levels continue to rise. No fatalities have been reported.