Heavy rains cause minor flooding in homes, destroying pathways and forcing evictions

The intense rainfall in Catalonia caused by a DANA, or 'cold drop', - a recurring autumn weather phenomenon that brings torrential rains - came to an end on Thursday.

Despite the extreme weather, no serious incidents were reported, and the damage was largely material.

Firefighters responded to 52 calls, while the 112 emergency hotline received nearly 800 requests for assistance.

The heaviest rainfall occurred in southern Catalonia, where some areas recorded over 40 liters of rain per square meter in just 30 minutes.

One of the hardest-hit towns was Alcanar, in Montsià, which began to recover on Thursday morning after enduring severe rains the previous night.

Images from the town showed residents clearing water and mud from homes, businesses, and garages.

In the nearby town of Ulldecona, the storm caused more disruption, leaving one person with minor injuries while trying to remove water from their home.

Five people were evacuated as a precaution, and several pathways were destroyed.

Ulldecona recorded 123 liters of rain per square meter throughout the day, causing the Sorolla ravine to overflow and flood four houses.  

Roads and rail services return to normal

After a day of travel disruptions, including chaos on the AP-7 highway, transportation began to recover on Thursday. 

All affected roads reopened, and Rodalies commuter train lines resumed normal service by morning.

High-speed train routes between Barcelona and Madrid, as well as long-distance trains to Valencia, were also fully operational.

Flood prevention efforts in Mataró

In Mataró, north of Barcelona, the local council has been implementing measures to mitigate the risk of flooding.  

The town is traversed by two rivers, the Sant Simó and the Argentona, which make it particularly vulnerable to overflow during heavy rains.

To address this, the council has undertaken "profound" interventions.

One key measure involves removing vegetation from the riverbanks.

According to Mayor David Bote, the excessive growth of vegetation and the dumping of debris along the banks create significant "obstacles" to the proper flow of water.

Additionally, the council is planting native species to encourage the renaturalization of the area and to prevent the regrowth of invasive reeds.