An extreme thunderstorm has hit the Catalonia region of Spain, causing serious disruption in Camp de Tarragona on Monday. Public transport has been heavily affected, with bus cancellations reported. Strong hail, winds, and heavy downpours have led to flooding in streets and plazas across the area.
Flooding and emergency response
Affected locations include Carrer Joan Baptista Plana, Imperial Tàrraco, Carrer Vidal i Barraquer, Carrer d'Apodaca, and Avinguda Prat de la Riba. Firefighters responded to 129 calls, 107 of them in the Tarragona region, within an hour and a half, dealing with fallen tree branches and electrical cable issues.
Despite blocked roads and significant material damage, Sonia Orts, the Councillor for Civil Protection and Mobility, said: "Fortunately, there are no reports of personal injuries."
Warnings and impact
Tarragona City Council is working to remove dangerous trees and has closed local parks. The public has been warned to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel, according to reports. The Meteorological Service of Catalonia has issued a six out of six violent weather alert, with a risk of hailstones larger than two centimeters in diameter. The heavy rainfall also caused the death of many pigeons, which were seen on the ground amid the high water levels.
The storm has also affected several other areas in the northeast before reaching Tarragona. Municipalities in Segrià, including Almenar, Corbins, Albatàrrec, and Lleida city, were already hit by large hailstones, impacting local crops.
Recent severe weather
This weather comes just days after hurricane-force winds tore through the Balearic Islands overnight, with winds peaking at 121 kilometers per hour in the early hours of Friday. Tourists and residents woke to scenes of scattered debris, flooded roads, and battered coastal areas across the archipelago, which includes Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, and Formentera.
