ES-Alert Issued for Severe Flooding

Protecció Civil has issued an ES-Alert for the Baix Ebre and Montsià regions this morning, warning of significant flooding and urging residents not to leave their homes. The alert, sent at 08:21 on Friday 02 October 2026, follows intense rainfall overnight that triggered urban flooding and flash floods from mountain streams. Residents are advised to avoid all non-essential travel, refrain from retrieving vehicles, and not enter basements. If water enters a property, they are instructed to move to upper floors immediately.

Emergency Services Respond to 71 Incidents

The Catalan Fire Department (Bombers de la Generalitat) responded to 50 emergency calls between 23:00 on Thursday and 06:00 on Friday across the two comarcas. The Ebre emergency region has recorded 71 incidents since Thursday evening, mostly involving flooded ground floors, mobility issues and electrical faults. The emergency number 112 received 242 calls by 06:00, relating to 169 separate cases. Activity has since slowed after a peak during the night, particularly in Tortosa and Roquetes.

Residents must avoid going outside and stay away from rivers, streams and gullies, where flash flooding remains a serious risk.

Transport and Power Disruptions

Eight roads are currently closed due to flooding, according to the Catalan Traffic Service (Servei Català de Trànsit):

  • C-12 at Tortosa
  • TV-7044 at Montblanc
  • T-1025 and TV-3421 at Mas de Barberans
  • TP-3311 at La Galera
  • TP-3318 at Alcanar
  • T-331 at Freginals (Tarragona)

A total of 1,231 electricity subscribers are without power in Deltebre and Roquetes. Renfe has resumed train services normally.

Schools Closed and Emergency Plan Activated

The Pla INUNCAT, Catalonia’s emergency flood plan, has moved into the Emergency phase. As a result, all educational centres in Alcanar, Amposta, Freginals, La Ràpita, Mas de Barberans, Masdenverge, Santa Bàrbara (Montsià), and Deltebre and Tortosa (Baix Ebre) have suspended classes for today.

We urge maximum caution and under no circumstances should people approach rivers, streams, torrents or gullies.

Weather Outlook

The Catalan Meteorological Service (Meteocat) has issued a level 6/6 danger warning for rainfall intensity, valid until 09:20 on Friday. Up to 90 litres per square metre could fall in three hours across the affected areas. Meteocat warns the situation remains complex, with storm lines moving from the sea inland, risking further heavy rainfall. In the past 24 hours, Mas de Barberans recorded 192 litres per square metre, with 47 litres falling in just 30 minutes. Alcanar recorded 25 litres in half an hour and 139 litres over 24 hours.

Primary sources: govern.cat, interior.gencat.cat. Reported by elnacional.cat, Regió 7, lleidadiari.cat, diaridetarragona.com, naciodigital.cat, Tarragona21, Tarragona Ràdio, ACN, ara.cat, Servei Meteorològic de Catalunya. Generalitat de Catalunya, larazon.es, rtve.es, Diari de Girona, aldia.cat, diarimes.com, laciutat.cat, lameteo.cat, Diari ARA, reusdigital.cat.