Search for four people missing after last week’s heavy rains continues

Body found in the Francolí river over the weekend not that of any of the four missing people

Firefighters searching for missing bodies in the area surrounding the Francolí river in southern Catalonia (by Mar Rovira)
Firefighters searching for missing bodies in the area surrounding the Francolí river in southern Catalonia (by Mar Rovira) / ACN

ACN | Barcelona

October 28, 2019 03:30 PM

After the torrential downpour that hit all across Catalonia last week, the search for four missing people is still ongoing. 

On Sunday night, a body was found in the area of the Francolí river, but on Monday afternoon it was confirmed as none of the four that authorities were searching for, but rather that of a homeless man who lived near the river whose disappearance had not been brought to the attention of the rescue teams.

The Francolí river in southern Catalonia was one of the areas worst affected by flash floods last Tuesday, and already caused the death of at least three people. 

The days after the storm hit, authorities searched 43 km along the flooded river looking for any clues for those missing, and the search has so far proven very difficult as only one body of the originally five people being searched for has turned up so far. 

That operation is over and now search teams are focussing efforts on the areas where they found hints that indicate bodies could be nearby.