A severe storm has struck the Catalonia region of Spain, causing widespread disruption in Camp de Tarragona on Monday as trees fell and public transport was halted, according to local media. The extreme weather has prompted warnings for the public, including British holidaymakers, to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel.
Flooding and Transport Disruption
Strong hail and winds, alongside heavy downpours, led to flooding in streets and plazas, including Carrer Joan Baptista Plana, Imperial Tàrraco, Carrer Vidal i Barraquer, Carrer d'Apodaca, and Avinguda Prat de la Riba. Local media also reported bus service cancellations due to the extreme conditions.
Firefighters responded to 129 calls, 107 of which were in the Tarragona region, over just an hour and a half as tree branches fell and electrical cables faced issues.
No Injuries Reported
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." Tarragona City Council is working to remove dangerous trees and has closed local parks.
The Meteorological Service of Catalonia has issued a six out of six violent weather alert warning, with the risk of hailstones larger than two centimeters in diameter. Huge hailstones were seen smashing pavements, and the heavy rainfall also caused the death of many pigeons, visible in videos struck on the floor among the high levels of water.
Wider Regional Impact
The storm also impacted several other areas in the northeast before reaching Tarragona. Several municipalities in Segrià, such as Almenar, Corbins, Albatàrrec, and Lleida city, were already hit by huge hailstones, impacting local crops.
The weather comes just days after hurricane-force winds tore through the Balearic Islands overnight, with winds peaking at 121 kilometres 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 that includes Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, and Formentera.
