Rescue in Gavà as Floodwaters Trap Mother and Infant

Emergency crews rescued a 34-year-old woman and her five-month-old baby from a car submerged in a dry riverbed in Gavà after floodwaters rose to one metre. The vehicle had been swept into the riera and was unstable when firefighters arrived shortly after 11:00. Both were taken as a precaution to Hospital de Sant Boi, according to the Generalitat’s fire service.

Major Transport Disruptions Across Barcelona

The Ronda de Dalt remains closed in both directions near exit 3 due to flooding in the Caçador tunnel. The closure, initially in the direction of Llobregat, was extended after water inundated the entire section near Vall d'Hebron.

Barcelona’s metro network faces widespread disruptions. As of early afternoon, only Line 2 was operating normally. Key affected sections include Line 5 between Collblanc and Diagonal, Line 4 between Verdaguer and Trinitat Nova, and Line 3 between Liceu and Vall d'Hebron. Bus and TRAM services have also been impacted, with images on social media showing flooding on Avinguda Meridiana.

Rodalies and high-speed rail services faced suspensions and delays between 09:00 and 11:00, with Renfe citing temporary speed restrictions imposed by Adif. FGC’s R6 line runs only between Plaça Espanya and Sant Esteve Sesrovires, and between Piera and Igualada, with bus replacements in between. The S1 line (Terrassa) is gradually resuming, while L7 (Avinguda Tibidabo) remains suspended.

"We’re seeing very localised but intense rainfall. It’s not a generalised phenomenon," said Imma Solé, Deputy Director of Civil Protection.

El Prat Airport Cancels Around 100 Flights

By midday, approximately 100 flights had been cancelled at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport out of more than 1,100 scheduled for Tuesday, according to Aena. Air traffic manager Enaire implemented arrival regulations for safety, urging passengers to check with airlines. Vueling offered free rebooking for flights scheduled until 15:00 to departures within the next two days.

Widespread Flooding and School Closures

Three schools in Piera, Torrelles de Foix, and Vilanova i la Geltrú remain closed due to flooding. In Torrelles, staff discovered two inches of water on the ground floor, affecting infant classrooms, the library, and offices. After consultation with regional authorities, families were informed not to bring students to the 180-pupil centre.

Severe rainfall peaked at 97 litres per square metre in Canaletes (Anoia), with 94 litres falling in just three hours, according to Meteocat’s forecasting chief Santi Segalà. Some areas, including Sant Pere de Riudebitlles and Sant Pau d’Ordal, recorded over 100 l/m² in the same period.

Residents in Sant Cugat reported a storm drain overflow that flooded ground-floor shops on Carrer del Torrent de la Bomba and Carrer de Santa Maria, with some business owners estimating thousands of euros in lost stock.

Civil Protection Issues Warnings

An ES-Alert was sent to mobile phones in Anoia, Alt Penedès, and Baix Llobregat early Tuesday morning, warning against going outside, retrieving vehicles, or entering basements. Authorities reiterated warnings not to approach riverbanks, particularly along the Llobregat near Sant Vicenç dels Horts, as river levels are being closely monitored.

The 112 emergency line received 1,234 calls related to the storm, with the highest volume in Barcelonès (400), Baix Llobregat (325), and Vallès Occidental (307). Firefighters responded to 400 incidents. Power outages affected more than 2,000 customers, mainly in the Llobregat area, across 17 reported incidents.

Reported by ara.cat, beteve.cat, naciodigital.cat, ca.meteorologiaenred.com, rtvc.es, Ara Cat.