Red alert lifted as intense DANA storm eases across Catalonia

Emergency services are searching for two people who went missing this Saturday in Cubelles, south of Barcelona

Firefighters recovering a car swept away by the river Cardener in Súria
Firefighters recovering a car swept away by the river Cardener in Súria / Catalan News Agency (ACN)
Catalan News

Catalan News | @catalannews | Barcelona

July 12, 2025 11:41 AM

July 12, 2025 09:53 PM

The arrival of a DANA (a high-level isolated depression), a weather phenomenon capable of producing intense rainfall, placed Catalonia on high alert on Saturday.

The Catalan Weather Service (Meteocat) issued a very high-risk warning — levels 5 and 6, the highest possible — during the day for intense rain throughout the territory.

Although initial warnings were orange and yellow in the morning, the forecast worsened significantly, prompting authorities to upgrade the alert to the maximum level.

 

Rainfall intensity risk map
Rainfall intensity risk map / Catalan Weather Service

A mobile phone alert was sent across Catalonia to warn residents as the heavy storms moved in.

Civil Protection advised the public to avoid travel and outdoor activities, and to stay away from rivers and flood-prone areas.

The heaviest rain occurred mainly during midday and the afternoon, and by 7.30 pm, the red alerts were deactivated for much of the territory.

Residents in areas no longer at risk received another phone alert informing them that the danger had passed.

The phone alert issued by Civil Protection
The phone alert issued by Civil Protection / Catalan News

Two people missing

Emergency services are searching for two people who went missing in Cubelles, a coastal town south of Barcelona, during the heavy rainfall episode. 

Interior minister Núria Parlon said firefighters are conducting the search using underwater units and a helicopter.

The missing individuals are being searched for in the Foix river, which overflowed in Cubelles after water was released from the Foix reservoir due to excessive accumulation.

The opening of the floodgates caused the river to rise and eventually overflow its banks.

Train service suspended across Catalonia

The heavy rains forced the suspension of all Renfe and Rodalies train services in Catalonia.

At 4 pm, Rodalies announced that "all rail traffic was halted for safety reasons."

Authorities also stated that alternative road transport could not be guaranteed.

The suspension affected commuter (Rodalies), regional, and long-distance trains, including high-speed AVE services.

Several stations were closed to "prevent overcrowding and ensure public safety."

As for the Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat, they operated normally throughout the day.

By 7 pm, high-speed trains resumed service, and Rodalies gradually recovered operations.

Passengers queue to use a ticket machine at Sants station
Passengers queue to use a ticket machine at Sants station / Albert Hernàndez

700 incidents so far

Since the beginning of the rain episode, firefighters received more than 700 calls.

Between 3.30 pm and 4.30 pm alone, they handled over 300 calls, most of them coming from the southern part of the Barcelona metropolitan area.

Vilanova i la Geltrú, Vilafranca del Penedès, and Igualada were among the towns with the highest number of alerts.

Meanwhile, the 112 emergency hotline received nearly 1,000 calls, mainly from the Anoia and Alt Penedès counties.

While the most intense rainfall is forecast for Saturday, precipitation already began overnight.

On Friday night, authorities received 70 incident reports, all of which were classified as minor.

Flooded ground floors in a home in Tàrrega, Lleida
Flooded ground floors in a home in Tàrrega, Lleida / Oriol Bosch

Barcelona cancels activities

The Barcelona City Council activated the flood risk alert, leading to the suspension of all planned outdoor activities.

As a result, the Tibidabo amusement park, the Zoo, Park Güell, and all public parks were closed.

On the beaches, lifeguards were withdrawn and the red flag was raised to prohibit swimming.

All municipal cleaning services were also instructed to return to base.

The Cruïlla Festival postponed the opening of its doors for 9.30 pm, and is working with artists to reschedule the cancelled concerts.

The Grec Festival also suspended all of its activities for the day.

Tibidabo amusement park pictured during the heavy rainfall
Tibidabo amusement park pictured during the heavy rainfall / Pere Francesch

Understanding the DANA

DANAs (High-level Isolated Depression) are a common weather phenomenon in the Mediterranean region.

They can cause sudden shifts in weather, bringing intense rainfall and storms within minutes, often concentrated in highly localized areas.

One such DANA was responsible for the devastating floods in Valencia in October last year, where more than 227 people tragically lost their lives — one of the deadliest weather-related disasters in Spain in recent memory.

However, authorities stress that not every DANA results in disaster. While caution is always advised, there is no reason to panic with each occurrence.

To learn more about DANAs, their increasing intensity in the context of climate change, and the events surrounding the Valencia floods, you can listen to this podcast episode from last year.

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