British holidaymakers in the Catalonia region of Spain have faced significant disruption as a violent thunderstorm brought torrential rain, fierce hail, and gales, causing widespread flooding and transport chaos.
The storm hit the Camp de Tarragona area on Monday, with local media reporting that trees were toppled and public transport ground to a halt. Sections of streets and squares were submerged, including Carrer Joan Baptista Plana, Imperial Tàrraco, Carrer Vidal i Barraquer, Carrer d'Apodaca, and Avinguda Prat de la Riba. Bus services were also suspended due to the extreme conditions.
Emergency Response and Damage
Fire crews responded to 129 emergency calls, 107 of which were in the Tarragona area, within just an hour and a half. Tree branches crashed down and power lines suffered problems, according to reports.
Despite blocked routes and substantial material damage, Sonia Orts, the Councillor for Civil Protection and Mobility, said: "Fortunately, there are no reports of personal injuries." Tarragona City Council is working to clear hazardous trees and has shut local parks. The public has been urged to remain indoors and avoid unnecessary journeys.
Severe Weather Alert
The Meteorological Service of Catalonia has issued a six out of six severe weather alert warning, with the threat of hailstones exceeding two centimetres in diameter. The torrential downpour also caused the death of numerous pigeons, which were seen lying on the ground amidst the high water levels.
The tempest also affected numerous other regions in the northeast before hitting Tarragona. Several towns in Segrià, such as Almenar, Corbins, Albatàrrec, and Lleida city, had already experienced massive hailstones that damaged local crops.
Recent Storm Activity
This weather event comes just days after hurricane-strength winds ripped through the Balearic Islands overnight, with gusts reaching a peak of 121 kilometres per hour in the early hours of Friday. Holidaymakers and locals woke up to scenes of strewn debris, inundated roads, and ravaged coastal areas across the archipelago encompassing Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, and Formentera.
