DANA now causes damage in Barcelona and Catalonia

Madrid. While there are still hundreds of missing people and tens of thousands of victims in Valencia, torrential rains have now been recorded in Catalonia, especially in Barcelona and neighboring municipalities, where short, medium and long-distance trains, the main highways had to be cancelled. They had to be closed due to the serious danger they posed and the Prat airport, one of the most modern and with the largest number of travelers in Europe, had to be partially closed due to the flooding suffered by both the take-off and landing runways and the lounges. boarding and arrival.

The crisis due to the “cold drop” in Spain, far from abating, is intensifying, although at the epicenter of the tragedy, in towns like Paiporta, Bennetuser or Chiva, they finally begin to receive, six days later, aid from the Spanish Army.

The forecasts of the Spanish Meteorological Agency (AEMET) were that in the central, southeastern and northern areas of Catalonia a DANA of around 50 liters per square meter would be recorded, but the torrential rains have been even more intense, meaning a A good part of the region has been completely cut off by train, road and airplanes. All short and medium distance passenger train services, which most people in the region use to travel to their jobs or schools, were suspended due to the flooding and serious damage to the tracks.

But perhaps the most eloquent image of the severity of the phenomenon is the Barcelona airport, with the runways converted into a mighty river and the boarding and departure halls completely flooded with water. The few travelers who were there had to look for an exit while the water reached almost their waists. In addition, the Catalan government, chaired by the socialist Salvador Illa, activated a red alert for the population of the area, since there is also a risk of overflows and landslides due to the severe accumulation of water.

Only about 400 kilometers from Barcelona, ​​in Valencia, the situation of the affected towns is slowly beginning to improve, thanks above all to the wave of citizen solidarity since for the first time in six days the Spanish Army troops mobilized to rescue and aid tasks, and which amount to 7,800.

Among the data that best explains the magnitude of the tragedy in Valencia is the number of vehicles destroyed by the uncontrolled flood of water, which according to the Spanish Ministry of Economy exceeds 100,000. In addition, it was reported that there are 65 affected municipalities in Valencia, with a total population of 845,900 inhabitants. It is also estimated that there are more than 54,000 companies affected.

The Valencia Chamber of Commerce estimates that between four thousand and four thousand 500 premises located on ground floors in which economic activity was carried out may have suffered considerable damage. In addition, it is estimated that there is damage to the properties of 34 municipal markets and 11 parks/shopping centers.

Meanwhile, controversy persists over the disturbances that occurred last Sunday during the visit of the kings of Spain, Felipe and Letizia, and the presidents of Spain and Valencia, Pedro Sánchez and Carlos Mazón, respectively.

According to the Ministry of the Interior, some of the people who insulted and threw objects at the procession were from extreme right-wing groups, some of them linked to ultra fans of soccer teams in the area. It was also reported that President Sánchez was evicted from the riot area after being hit with an object.

Road effects

The accumulation of water in the high-speed tunnel near El Prat de Llobregat (Barcelona) has forced high-speed trains on the line between Madrid and Barcelona to temporarily stop running.

Renfe sources explain to Europa Press that the impact began at 12:00 p.m., with the suspension of high-speed traffic between El Prat de Llobregat, Barcelona Sants and Sant Andreu Comtal.

At 12:45 p.m. traffic was restored between Barcelona and Sant Andreu and at 1:15 p.m. between El Prat and Barcelona, ​​although only on one of the roads.

(With information from Europa Press)