The storm leaves classes suspended, trains cancelled and flooding in Tarragona

The red warning for torrential rains remains in effect until Friday in Tarragona, with over 80 litres per square metre accumulated and nearly 50 incidents attended to by the firefighters. Renfe cancels long-distance services between Catalonia and the Valencian Community.

Torrential rains have hit the province of Tarragona hard since Thursday, leaving flooded roads, cancelled trains, and classes suspended in over twenty municipalities. The Generalitat has kept the alerts active until Friday, according to information published by laSexta.

The Deputy Director of Civil Protection, Inmaculada Solé, has urged people to take extra precautions regarding mobility and outdoor activities during a press conference.

"Do not approach flood-prone areas and, in case of emergency, contact 112"

The firefighters have responded to nearly 50 incidents related to the storm. Maximum accumulations have exceeded 80 litres per square metre in some areas of the province, and nine counties have received the ES-Alert message due to extraordinary danger.

Forecasts indicate accumulations of over 250 litres per square metre in just 12 hours, which necessitates maintaining the red warning. Poor visibility has complicated traffic in Vila-seca, while in La Bisbal del Penedès, the water barely allowed cars to pass. In Coma-ruga, water was bubbling up from the sewers.

The uncertainty about where the heaviest rainfall will occur remains. "There is some uncertainty about where the rainfall will fall. It is important to stay informed," warned Solé. In El Vendrell, the torrent has been filling with water until it reaches the sea, and a roundabout in Salou has become practically inaccessible.

In four localities (Amposta, Deltebre, la Ràpita, and Alcanar), classes have also been suspended for Friday. Renfe has announced that long-distance services between Catalunya and the Comunitat Valenciana will face cancellations.

In the provinces of Castellón and Valencia, red warnings have also forced the closure of educational centres, the suspension of outdoor activities, and the rescheduling of surgical interventions to limit travel. Throughout Thursday, three ES-Alerts have been sent in the Valencian Community.

The firefighters of Castellón have had to wade through pools of water to respond to calls, and the province's water rescue unit has been activated. "The parks are equipped with all the water rescue and pumping material," explained Antonio Rodrigo, chief sub-inspector of the Consortium of Firefighters of Castellón.

The storms have reached areas in the interior of Castellón with very irregular distribution: in Xodos (Mas de Caixó), over 100 litres per square metre have been recorded, while in Sant Joan de Penyagolosa, just four kilometres away, only 0.4 litres per square metre have been registered.

The storm has caused the closure of numerous centres and has affected over 200,000 students in the Valencian Community. Several short, medium, and long-distance lines have also been suspended, and many shops have closed. In ravines like those in Chiva or Gátova, water has been seen flowing with great force.

In Catarroja (Valencia), one of the areas hardest hit by the DANA of 2024, residents have protected their vehicles by parking them in designated elevated areas. It has also rained in the afternoon in other parts of Spain such as La Palma or Bilbao.