Search continues for two people feared swept away in Foix river during DANA storm

The search for two people who reportedly disappeared on Saturday during the heavy rains in the Foix river, in Cubelles, resumed on Sunday.

Firefighters searched the river overnight from the last known point of sighting, but found no trace of the individuals.

On Sunday morning, underwater units resumed operations, assisted by helicopters and drone teams.

The Catalan police force, Mossos d'Esquadra, and Maritime Rescue teams also joined the ongoing search efforts.

Although no official missing persons report has been filed, a witness claims to have seen two individuals crossing a bridge and falling into the river.

“Maybe they are foreigners,” said Rosa Montserrat Fonoll, mayor of Cubelles. “Maybe today is the day someone reports them missing.”

The coastal town, located southwest of Barcelona, was among the hardest hit areas during Saturday’s torrential downpours caused by a DANA (isolated high-altitude depression).

The Foix River swelled dramatically after excess reservoir water was released due to capacity limits, severely impacting Cubelles.

At the height of the rainfall, the river’s flow surged to 400 m³ per second, far above its usual rate of less than 10.

“I’ve never seen anything like this in Cubelles,” said the mayor, explaining that water flow reached 200 cubic meters per second through the town. “We were very lucky,” she added.

Fonoll confirmed that the bridge near where the two individuals reportedly fell is “destroyed.” She also explained that some residents remain without electricity or running water, and others are still unable to leave their homes.

During the heavy rain episode, firefighters received nearly 1,200 calls, while the 112 emergency line handled around 1,700 calls.

The most affected areas were the metropolitan region south of Barcelona, with the counties of Alt Penedès, Garraf, Anoia, and Vallès Occidental among the hardest hit.

Residents say alerts came too late

The timing and management of the flood risk alerts sent to mobile phones have led many Cubelles residents to complain that the warnings were inadequate.

“The phone alert went off, but less than five minutes later, the entire street was flooded,” said Antonia, a local neighbor. “It was terrifying to watch the water rushing in.”

Sònia, the owner of a pizzeria in Cubelles, said: “As soon as the phone alert came, the water followed, rising from just a couple of centimeters to half a meter within moments.”

The mayor of Cubelles, Rosa Montserrat Fonoll, criticized the lack of warning about the release of water from the Foix reservoir, saying it came “with very little time to act, when it was already upon us.”

Despite that, interior minister Núria Parlon defended the government's response, saying that the right measures were taken to “protect citizens.”

Parlon insisted that alerts were sent out at the proper time, though she acknowledged that some issues with certain mobile operators meant not everyone received them.

“Sometimes it seems like Civil Protection is overreacting because it’s sunny and not raining where we are, but these things do happen,” she said.

Alt Penedès Hospital closes

The Alt Penedès Hospital in Vilafranca del Penedès, southwest of Barcelona, has been forced to close following the severe flooding on Saturday.

Health minister Olga Pané explained that the damage caused by the collapse of a retaining wall, primarily affected the electrical system, making normal hospital operations impossible.

“We have decided to evacuate and transfer the 71 patients to the hospitals of Sant Camil, Bellvitge, Igualada, Sant Boi, and Viladecans,” she said.

According to Pané, none of the patients suffered harm or deterioration in their condition during the transfer.

The minister estimates that normal hospital activity will resume within two to three weeks.

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.