In brief
Fresh flooding incidents in Girona cause widespread chaos, leaving residents on high alert following prior devastating floods.
In the early hours of Friday, flash floods wreaked havoc in the town of Cadaqués, located in Girona, northeastern Spain, where approximately 30 cars were washed away according to local media reports. Footage shared by a journalist captured the ferocious torrent of water cascading down the streets, ultimately blocking a bridge with a pile of vehicles. Fortunately, there have been no reports of injuries or people trapped amid the deluge.This recent flooding follows a catastrophic week in which over 200 individuals lost their lives, primarily in the Valencia region, due to one of the most severe flood events encountered in Europe in this century. The intensity of the flooding has sparked significant public outrage aimed at authorities who faced criticism for failing to issue timely emergency warnings during that disaster.The Catalonia fire service updated that the flooding on Friday caused a significant accumulation of cars under the bridge but reported no injuries from the incident. Meanwhile, Catalonia's meteorological service has issued warnings for additional rain expected later on Friday evening, potentially continuing through Saturday afternoon for the Alt Emporda region inhabited by Cadaqués. The warning indicated that rain intensity could surpass 20 mm (0.7 inches) in just a half hour.Recent records show staggering rainfall levels in the region; Cadaqués experienced a total of 76.8 mm (3 inches) from November 7-8, and neighboring towns recorded over 100 mm. Notably, Spain's weather agency, Aemet, reported that rainfall from October 1 to November 5 this year was up 72% compared to average figures, attributing some of this extreme weather to climate change factors, which exacerbated the flooding conditions that entangled many residents in their vehicles.The ongoing situation in Spain continues to incite discussions regarding accountability and preparedness in the face of mounting climate-related weather challenges, as further flood risks loom on the horizon.
