Heavy Rains Flood Costa Daurada, Injure 7 and Prompt Evacuations

Heavy overnight rains have flooded parts of the Costa Daurada, injuring seven people—one critically—and causing evacuations and structural damage in Baix Penedès and northern Tarragonès towns popular with Andorran summer visitors, including Roda de Berà, Torredembarra, El Vendrell, Creixell, Comarruga and Cunit.

Rainfall totals exceeded 100 litres per square metre in the affected areas, with El Vendrell recording 145.5 litres and Torredembarra 136.8 litres, according to the Servei Meteorològic de Catalunya. Maximums may have surpassed 150 litres per square metre. Weather conditions remain unstable on Saturday, with risks of further intense storms, particularly in southern Costa Daurada and Terres de l’Ebre during the morning, shifting northwards in the afternoon.

The three most serious injuries occurred in Roda de Berà when a wall collapsed at the port, trapping victims. Two campsite workers in the same municipality were also hurt by a falling wall, while the remaining two were trapped in vehicles amid the flooding. Medical teams managed 35 cases, transferring critical patients to Hospital Joan XXIII in Tarragona and others to Hospital Santa Tecla.

Firefighters handled 192 calls overnight and 50 more between 7am and 10am, while Catalonia's 112 emergency line received nearly 700 reports. Incidents included fallen trees, urban furniture collapses and street flooding. Authorities evacuated the Les Sirenes campsite in Creixell and a nightclub in El Vendrell, busing around 150 young people to Pla de Mar school. Reception centres opened at Roda de Berà's sports complex and Creixell's community centre.

El Vendrell's seafront saw the worst inundations, with water entering hotel lobbies and low-lying streets. No Andorran residents or nationals have been reported seriously affected.

The Generalitat has maintained alerts for intense rain in southern coastal and pre-coastal areas, urging people to avoid travel, steer clear of flood-prone zones and rivers, and move to upper floors if trapped by water. Officials advise monitoring updates from the Servei Meteorològic de Catalunya and Protecció Civil.