Heavy rains in Spain’s Barcelona amid search for flood victims in Valencia
Al Jazeera
Alerts issued in Barcelona area as the same storm system that caused devastating Valencia floods hovers over Spain.
The recurrent storms in eastern Spain that led to massive flooding last week and killed at least 217 people, mostly near Valencia, have dumped rain on Barcelona, prompting authorities to suspend commuter rail service.
Transport Minister Oscar Puente on Monday said he was suspending all commuter trains in northeastern Catalonia, a region with 8 million people, on request from civil protection officials.
Authorities in Barcelona warned of “extreme and continued rainfall” on the southern outskirts of the city, urging people to avoid any normally dry gorges or canals.
Puente said the rains forced air traffic controllers to change the course of 15 flights operating at Barcelona’s airport, located on the southern flank of the city. Several highways have also been closed.
Classes were cancelled in Tarragona, a city in southern Catalonia about halfway between Barcelona and Valencia, after a red alert for rains was issued.
