River levels reach 100-year peak
Protecció Civil has issued an Es-Alert for parts of Girona following dangerous river levels in the Ridaura and Daró, urging residents to avoid riverbanks and take precautions. The warning was sent on Sunday 4 October at midday, with authorities citing "precarious" conditions due to intense rainfall focused on northeastern Catalonia. At Santa Cristina d'Aro, the Ridaura reached a flow rate of 300 cubic metres per second (m³/s), a level classified by the Agència Catalana de l'Aigua (ACA) as equivalent to a 100-year return period event. This means such high flows are statistically expected only once every century under normal climatic conditions.
We urge maximum caution and that people stay away from riverbanks and low-lying areas.
The Daró also saw significant increases, reaching nearly 180 m³/s at La Bisbal d'Empordà earlier on Sunday, according to ACA data cited by ACN. By 13:45, the flow had decreased slightly to 108 m³/s at the same location but rose to 223 m³/s further downstream at Serra de Daró, where it has overflowed in places.
Other waterways under observation
The riera de Gotarra in the Gironès recorded 113 m³/s at Campllong, while the Tordera showed moderate flow at around 112 m³/s near Fogars de la Selva. In Barcelona’s demarcation, the Besòs dropped sharply from nearly 940 m³/s at 07:00 in Santa Coloma de Gramenet to just 103 m³/s later in the day. Rainfall totals exceeded 150 litres per square metre across much of the Baix Empordà, approaching 200 litres in some towns. The extreme weather has already been linked to two deaths and one person missing.
Safety advice for residents
Protecció Civil advises people living near affected rivers to remain indoors, avoid basements and low-lying zones, and move to upper floors if flooding occurs. Anyone in danger is urged to contact emergency services on 112. More information on flood risk and monitoring is available via the Agència Catalana de l'Aigua.
Primary sources: idescat.cat, Agència Catalana de l'Aigua. Generalitat de Catalunya, Agència Catalana de l'Aigua, Agència Catalana de l'Aaigua. Reported by Newsroom Infobae, cronicaglobal.elespanol.com, ACN, teleprensa.com, L'Empordà.
