Northeastern Spain, including Catalonia, was hit by torrential downpours today, causing widespread flooding, disrupting rail traffic, and even impacting a Barcelona hospital and airport.
The meteorological agency Aemet had issued a red alert for most of Catalonia, with some areas recording over 100 liters of rain per square meter within just a few hours.
The heavy rains led to significant flooding, including at a Barcelona hospital that had to turn away new patients after a power outage. At Barcelona Airport, a plane bound for the U.S. was forced to return after sustaining hail damage, according to air traffic controllers.
The severe weather compelled the railway company Renfe to suspend all rail services across Catalonia for several hours, affecting high-speed, regional, and commuter trains. Emergency services in the region responded to over 70 calls for assistance, though no one was reported to be in serious condition. The red alert was lifted two hours later.
Beyond Catalonia, other regions in northern and eastern Spain, including Aragon and the Valencia region, also experienced heavy rainfall.
