A woman in her 40s is feared dead after being swept away by powerful floodwaters while attempting to cross a swollen stream with her young daughter in Spain.
The incident occurred at around 7.30pm on Saturday in Cabrera de Mar, approximately 18 miles from Barcelona, as torrential rain caused severe flooding across parts of the country.
The family had been returning to their car after playing basketball in the town when the woman and her daughter attempted to cross the waterway. The strong current overwhelmed the woman and carried her downstream.
Her husband managed to prevent their daughter from being swept away.
The missing woman is from Malgrat de Mar, about a 30-minute drive from where she was last seen.
Firefighters, Police Divers and Drones Join Search
Six firefighter units have joined rescue teams, police divers and drone operators in the search for the missing woman.
Cabrera de Mar Mayor Oscar Fernandez said the family had attempted to cross the stream on foot when the woman was swept away by the rapidly flowing water.
“One of its members was swept away by the water, which was surging with great force due to the heavy rainfall. We have no further information at this time,” he said.
Emergency teams continued their search as heavy rainfall and flooding affected several regions of Spain.
Storm Adam Triggers Severe Weather Warnings
Storm Adam has brought torrential rain to southern and eastern Spain, with forecasters warning of further dangerous conditions.
The storm is expected to bring between 250mm and 350mm of rain to Valencia and surrounding areas over a 24-hour period.
From 10am on Sunday, parts of the Costa Blanca were due to come under a rare danger-to-life weather warning, scheduled to remain in force until 10am on Monday.
Spain’s state weather agency, Aemet, issued a red alert covering Malaga city, Torremolinos, Fuengirola, Marbella, Estepona, Nerja and the Axarquia region.
The agency warned that the extreme weather could cause serious or catastrophic damage to property and pose a significant threat to vulnerable people and those in exposed locations.
Further heavy rainfall was forecast for the southern coast of Valencia and northern Alicante, where accumulations could reach 300mm throughout Monday.
More Than 100 Emergency Calls as Floodwaters Sweep Through Streets
Emergency services have responded to more than 100 calls since the heavy rain began on Saturday, with many involving people trapped inside vehicles surrounded by floodwater.
Videos shared on social media showed large recycling bins and a car being carried downstream by the current. Other images showed a truck caught in rapidly rising muddy water.
Flooding has affected several communities, including El Palo, east of Malaga city centre, and areas further inland in Axarquia, where thousands of British expatriates live.
The south-eastern province of Almeria has also experienced severe flooding, with vehicles trapped and basements inundated in municipalities including El Ejido.
Two elderly people were rescued after becoming trapped in their cars in floodwaters in Sentmenat, in Catalonia’s Valles Occidental region.
Residents and Tourists Urged to Stay Indoors
Authorities have urged residents and tourists to remain indoors, avoid unnecessary journeys and keep away from low-lying roads, riverbeds and beachfront areas.
People in Valencia received an emergency alert on their mobile phones on Saturday afternoon advising them to stay indoors as floodwaters affected the region.
Public facilities, including libraries, cemeteries and gardens, have been closed in affected areas. Football matches and concerts have also been cancelled.
Several roads have been closed or placed under restrictions because of concerns about landslides and dangerous driving conditions.
Spain Remembers Earlier Flood Deaths as Fresh Storm Hits
The latest flooding comes after deadly storms earlier this month claimed two lives in Catalonia.
A 75-year-old man died after a campsite wall collapsed on him in Tordera, near the Costa Brava coastline. Another man died in a flooded garage in Montornes del Valles, near Barcelona.
On Thursday, authorities confirmed that the body of a 12-year-old boy named Rami had been found after he disappeared during a storm in Catalonia on October 4.
A fisherman discovered the boy’s body off a beach in the holiday resort of Sitges on Wednesday, according to reports.
Rami, who had Level 2 autism, reportedly left his home in Granollers, near Barcelona, after becoming frightened and disorientated during the night. A non-profit organisation had issued an appeal on behalf of his family as volunteers joined police and other officials in the search.
Another person, a man believed to have fallen into a flooded river in Pineda de Mar, north of Barcelona, was also reported missing around the same period.
Storm Raises Concerns Two Years After Deadly Valencia Floods
Storm Adam has arrived two years after catastrophic flash floods in Valencia killed 214 people.
The latest deluge has caused widespread disruption across southern and eastern Spain, with emergency services continuing to respond to flooding incidents and dangerous weather conditions.
At the time of the reports, no injuries or deaths had been confirmed in connection with this weekend’s flash floods.
