Two people were believed to be missing in Catalonia on Saturday night following intense rainfall that swept across the north and northeast of Spain, that also prompted a temporary halt to rail services in the region.
Emergency military units were also called out to assist in the neighbouring region of Aragón. ALSO READ: Emergency military units deployed in northern Spain due to ‘Dana’ and heavy rain.
The national weather agency Aemet recorded approximately 10 cm of rain falling within just a few hours in areas around Barcelona.
Firefighters announced on X that they were searching for two people believed to have been carried off by a river in Cubelles, a town located around 50 km from the Catalan capital.
Although no official missing persons report has been filed, according to local media a witness claims to have seen two individuals crossing a bridge and falling into the Foix river in Cubelles.
Firefighters had searched the river overnight on Saturday from the last known point of sighting, but found no trace of the individuals.
On Sunday morning, underwater units were resuming operations, assisted by helicopters and drone teams. The Catalan police force, the Mossos d’Esquadra, and Maritime Rescue teams had also joined the ongoing search efforts.
The Foix river swelled dramatically as excess water from the reservoir was released due to blocked gates, severely impacting Cubelles.
The mayor of Cubelles, Rosa Montserrat Fonoll, confirmed to local media that the bridge near where the two individuals reportedly fell was ‘destroyed’
‘Maybe they [the two people believed to be missing] are foreigners,’ she said. ‘Maybe today is the day someone reports them missing.’
She also said that some residents remained without electricity or running water, and others were still unable to leave their homes.
On Saturday during the storm and torrential rain, Spain’s national rail operator, Renfe, suspended train services across Catalonia for several hours as a safety measure before restoring operations later in the day.
Severe flooding affected a hospital in Barcelona, forcing it to turn away patients. Road closures were reported, and a flight en route to the United States had to return to Barcelona after hail damaged the aircraft’s nose.
In a similar incident last October, torrential downpours led to catastrophic flooding in the eastern province of Valencia, resulting in 225 fatalities and extensive damage – the deadliest weather-related disaster in Spain in decades. ALSO READ: Spain activates largest peacetime deployment of army and police to epicentre of Valencia floods.
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🌧️ Dos desapareguts pel desbordament del Foix a Cubelles.
➕ 1.700 avisos per pluges a Catalunya
🚉 150 persones passen la nit a Sants
🏥 Les inundacions obliguen a tancar les urgències a Vilafranca📲 Info: https://t.co/qLcaaYr5hr pic.twitter.com/ws7eUyVh1I
— RTVE Notícies (@rtvenoticies) July 13, 2025
Ayer noche, @bomberscat informa a nuestro centro #Barcelona de la caída al agua de 2 personas #Cubelles por la crecida del río y solicitan colaboración.
El helimer 203/salvamar Polaris buscan junto a los medios desplegados por Bombers, UMME @mossos @CreuRojaBCN y Policía Local. pic.twitter.com/maTqchx1qc— SALVAMENTO MARÍTIMO (@salvamentogob) July 13, 2025
Col·laborem amb @bomberscat en la recerca de dues persones que, segons testimonis, van caure ahir al riu, a Cubelles
Diverses unitats s’han desplegat fins a la desembocadura al mar, on la #PoliciaMaritima inspecciona la línia de costa pic.twitter.com/XvI7LYSQfi
— Mossos (@mossos) July 13, 2025
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