Storm Gloria begins to pass but river overflowing risks still in place

Confinement orders on 26 towns in Catalonia have been lifted following a meeting this morning of the technical committee of Catalonia’s emergency flooding plan team, Inuncat. 

Despite this, the high possibility of rivers bursting their banks across the country keeps the population on high alert on Thursday, as Catalonia begins to deal with the fifth day of Storm Gloria. 

Civil Protection ordered 29 towns in the Girona region to avoid entering lower grounds of buildings due to the increase in water level of the river Ter.

The towns of Vilanova de Sau and Viladrau have been given fresh restriction orders on Thursday morning for the high risk of overspills in the Riera Major.

Civil Protection also warns of overflows of the rivers Llobregat, Siurana and the tributaries of the bank of the Segre river: Sió, Corb, Ondara and Set. 

In various parts of the country, rain continues to fall and there are still some floods, causing more disruptions. 

Around 137,000 students have been prevented from attending class for safety and logistics worries.

In the town of Berguedà, northern Catalonia, around 800 people have been left without electricity, while dozens of roads are out of use across the country, primarily in the regions of Barcelona and Girona. 

Although the situation has begun to stabilize, the meteorological service forecasts that rainfall will be maintained for some hours on Thursday morning, and for this reason Civil Protection is asking to exercise caution in the event of new river overflows. 

The restriction of outdoor activity is maintained in the northern Catalan counties especially affected by the storm.

The mayor of Alcanar, Joan Roig, has asked that a state of emergency be declared for the affected flooded area.