Flood warnings as rising rivers cause disruption in northern Catalonia

The heavy rain that hit Catalonia over the weekend may have come to an end, but the country is still coping with the fallout from the downpours. In northern areas especially, water levels in rivers are still dangerously high, with some having burst their banks to cause widespread flooding.

On Monday, the situation of rivers and waterways led the authorities to issue flood warnings, while some schools staying closed, some isolated settlements and roads remained cut off, and dozens of people who had been evacuated waited for the all clear so that they could return to their homes.

While the civil protection service reported that water levels in rivers had begun to fall slightly on Monday, people are nevertheless advised to stay away from waterways, especially in the northern region of Girona, where the Onyar, Ter and Llobregat de Muga rivers are still dangerously full.

Flooding affects roads and schools

The worst effects of the heavy rainfall were felt in Girona's Empordà counties, where on Monday a number of major and minor roads were still cut off due to flooding from local waterways. Meanwhile, schools in the town of Figueres remained closed, with others in the local area only able to provide a minimum service.

According to Catalonia's meteorological service, more than 100 mm of rain fell in Empordà in a 24-hour period over the weekend, affecting all of the area's waterways, but in particular the Manol river. After the river near Figueres overflowed, 21 people in the nearby village of Vilatenim had to be evacuated by the emergency services.

By late morning on Monday, some of the evacuated families were allowed to return home. Yet others still had to wait for the flooding to subside and for power to be returned to their homes. The emergency services began evacuating people on Sunday evening. The next day some 40 mental patients were also evacuated from a residential home near Figueres.