Catalonia approves €75 million flood relief package as southern storms prompt rescues

Flash floods and vehicle rescues in southern Catalonia

Intense rainstorms swept across southern Catalonia on Tuesday afternoon, dumping more than 40 liters of water per square meter in half an hour across Baix Ebre, Terra Alta, and Ribera d'Ebre. The sudden downpours accumulated rapidly on roads outside Xerta, prompting firefighters from the Bombers de la Generalitat to rescue multiple occupants trapped in their vehicles along the C-12 before the rising currents could sweep their cars away. By 18:30, emergency crews completed approximately 20 rescue operations, including 14 interventions in Xerta and additional deployments in Benifallet, Alfara de Carles, and Aldover. Severe flooding forced authorities to shut down traffic on both the C-12 and the TV-3422 between Aldover and Tortosa. Protecció Civil broadcast an ES-Alert emergency notification at approximately 17:50 to mobile phones across Baix Camp, Baix Ebre, Ribera d'Ebre, and Terra Alta under the emergency phase of the Inuncat plan. The alert instructed residents to avoid flood-prone zones and minimize unnecessary travel until at least 19:00, while the Confederación Hidrográfica del Ebro warned of sudden surges in secondary streams and ravines following rainfall alerts of 15 millimeters per hour.

Cleanup operations and search efforts in Vallès

Further north in the comarca of Vallès Oriental, recovery teams concentrated on restoring access in Montornès del Vallès, Vilanova del Vallès, and Granollers following heavy rain over the weekend and Monday. Xavier Masramon, logistics manager for Protecció Civil, reported that approximately 300 personnel are currently mobilized under firefighter coordination, combining 50 Civil Protection workers with forest defense groups and the Red Cross. Crews spent Tuesday clearing mud and debris that obstructed entrances to homes and residential areas, while technical specialists began structural integrity assessments on damaged public infrastructure. Concurrently, emergency services established an operational coordination center in Granollers to expand the search for a 12-year-old boy missing since Sunday. The search operation deployed 40 personnel, search dogs, drones, a helicopter, and specialized underwater rescue teams to comb surrounding rural tracks and waterways while regional police patrolled urban neighborhoods. Interior Minister Núria Parlon noted in a radio broadcast that the boy's disappearance was not linked to storm conditions. Regional police issued a direct appeal to the public for assistance.

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Medical assistance and casualty reports

Regional medical authorities managed hundreds of health-related inquiries across Catalonia as severe weather conditions developed over multiple days. The Sistema d'Emergències Mèdiques (SEM) logged 456 emergency alerts between Wednesday, 30 September, and Tuesday afternoon, with the vast majority originating in Vallès Oriental. Medical teams treated 406 individuals during this period, resulting in 77 hospital transfers for medical evaluation and treatment. According to SEM medical director Jorge Morales, none of the injured suffered severe trauma, and only two individuals required on-site treatment following Tuesday's rainfall, neither of whom required hospitalization.

Emergency relief funding and infrastructure repair

The Generalitat of Catalonia formally approved an extraordinary relief package totaling €75 million on Tuesday to finance rebuilding efforts across damaged municipalities. Government spokesperson and Minister of Territory Sílvia Paneque announced the funding allocation following a meeting of the Consell Executiu, noting that the administration will mobilize all necessary resources to assist local communities. The financial package, initially outlined on Monday by President Salvador Illa, allocates €20 million in direct subsidies for local councils to rebuild transport and municipal infrastructure, €5 million to support affected commercial and agricultural sectors, and €50 million in liquidity credit lines managed through the Institut Català de Finances for businesses and self-employed workers.