Spanish rescuers were racing on Thursday to find a woman swept away by floods near Barcelona as torrential rain struck the country’s Mediterranean east, submerging streets and disrupting travel.
In the neighbouring region of Valencia scarred by 2024 floods that killed more than 230 people weather monitor Avamet recorded more than 70 millimetres of rain in just half an hour in several municipalities.
“Rarely have we seen such large rainfall accumulations in 30 minutes as the one we’ve had today in Valencia and nearby areas,” Avamet wrote on X. The deluge struck as the country, rocked by climate change, emerged from its hottest summer on record and an exceptionally warm start to September. Scientists say human-driven climate change is intensifying the Mediterranean storms that typically hit eastern Spain in autumn as the sea absorbs heat during the summer, leading to increased evaporation and heavier rainfall.
National weather agency AEMET issued warnings for heavy rain in eastern regions on Wednesday, briefly applying the highest red alert for Barcelona over a threat of flash floods.
