Southern Tarragona is under a Red Alert for torrential Rain

Southern Tarragona is under red weather alert this evening after torrential rain caused severe flooding, prompting the Catalan Civil Protection agency to issue two ES-Alert emergency warnings to mobile phones across the Montsià region and nearby coastal areas from Alcanar to Salou.

Residents trapped due to flooding in Montsià

The intense downpour, part of Storm Alice, has left streets flooded and ravines overflowing in several towns, including Godall, La Ràpita, and Santa Bàrbara. The Generalitat emergency service confirmed people trapped in cars and underpasses. Thankfully, there have not been any injuries reported.

Cristina Vicente, the head of Civil Protection operations, encouraged residents to stay inside and, “if at all possible, to move to higher floors if water were to enter their homes.” She warned of more rain expected overnight.

Transport disruption in Southern Tarragona

The Catalan Traffic Service reports that flooding has caused the AP-7 to be closed in both direction between Freginals & Ulldecona. Other roads affected include:

• C-12 (with detours) in Tortosa
• T-331 between Ulldecona and Santa Bàrbara
• TP-3311 between Santa Bàrbara and La Galera

There have also been severe disruptions to train travel. Renfe suspended operations on the Barcelona–Valencia line along the Mediterranean Corridor, affecting more than 3,000 passengers and 17 trains. One train was stranded at Ulldecona due to the submersion of tracks on the R16 commuter route. Civil Protection placed the Ferrocat system on pre alert.

ES Alerts sent

At 4 pm, authorities sent an ES-Alert to residents in Montsià, urging them to avoid unnecessary movement. By 8 pm, a second alert extended the warning to Baix Ebre, Baix Camp, Ribera d’Ebre, and Tarragonès regions. Aemet, the weather agency in Spain, has issued a “red alert” until midnight. It warns that up to 18 litres can fall per square metre within 12 hours.

As he met the Catalan Emergency Coordination Centre to assess the situation, President Salvador Illa called on residents to exercise “maximum precaution”, to avoid traveling and to adhere to official instructions.

More than 600 emergency calls were made to 112, mainly about flooded houses, roads and minor incidents. Local councils have opened temporary shelters and deployed monitoring teams along ravines and low lying zones.

Southern Catalonia is home to a significant expat community, particularly in Alcanar, La Ràpita, and Tortosa, where many British and northern European residents live. Residents are advised to stay away from travel due to the disruption of transport and high flood risk.

Authorities have warned of possible flash flooding in low lying and coastal areas. Once the storm has passed, road and cleanup efforts will start.

All weather reports are available.

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