Else Beekman
Storm Alice has caused major problems in several parts of Eastern Spain. More than a week after the latest intense rainfall, heavy rain and floods have hit Catalonia, the Valencia region and Ibiza again. Roads turned into rivers, trains and flights were cancelled, and hundreds of people had to leave their homes.
In the Montsià area of southern Catalonia, it rained so hard on Sunday that many streets flooded. Cars got stuck, water entered homes, and people had to be rescued.
Major roads like the AP-7 motorway and the N-340 were closed. Trains between Barcelona and Valencia also stopped running because of the water. Over 3,000 passengers were affected.
Emergency services received over 1,000 calls for help. In Tortosa, about 150 people were taken to shelters. In Freginals, others had to leave their homes too.
The Red Cross is helping about 500 people who can’t return home yet. Firefighters from other regions were sent in to help with rescue work. According to officials, the large number of emergencies happening at the same time made it hard to respond quickly.
Chaos Valencia region
Further south, in Carcaixent (Valencia region), streets and garages also flooded. Large parts of the town had no electricity. The mayor asked everyone to stay indoors.
In Aldaia, water overflowed near a local ravine again—just like during last year’s heavy storms.
The government in Catalonia declared a state of emergency in five areas. Schools in those places were closed on Monday. People were advised to work from home and only travel if necessary. Activities for the elderly and people with disabilities were also cancelled.
Rainfall in some areas reached 250 litres per square metre in just 24 hours—an extreme amount. Although the worst of the storm has moved out to sea, more rain could return, according to Spain’s weather service (Aemet). Rivers in Alcanar, La Ràpita and Ulldecona are still being closely watched.
Ibiza hit by days of rain
Meanwhile, Ibiza has also had a very rough time. For three days, rain has poured down over the island. Streets and beaches flooded, and several flights were delayed or cancelled.
On Sunday, over 60 litres of rain per square metre fell in some places. In Santa Eulària, a usually calm stream turned into a raging river, flooding the town centre. Shops, hotels and car parks were all affected.
Other badly hit places include Sant Antoni, Cala de Bou, Santa Agnès and Port des Torrent. In Port des Torrent, five pillars under a footbridge washed away, and now the bridge hangs dangerously in the air.
Beach walkways, chairs and wooden paths in Cala Gració and Cala Gracioneta were destroyed or carried off by water. In Sant Antoni, water even came up through the drains, bringing bad smells and reports of rats in restaurants.
Airport problems and tourists partying
Ibiza Airport had serious delays. On Sunday, four flights were cancelled and eight rerouted. On Saturday, the airport had to close completely for a few hours.
Despite all the rain, many tourists still went to the famous “closing parties” at clubs like Pacha and Ushuaïa. Some danced in puddles and rainwater. Only a few places, like O Beach Ibiza, closed early because of the weather.
Bad weather not over yet
The weather service says the orange alert for Ibiza will stay in place until at least Saturday, 18 October. Meteorologists expect more heavy rain and storms, especially on Monday and Tuesday. Rain could fall at a rate of 20 litres per square metre in just one hour. Since the ground is already soaked, this could lead to even more flooding.
Storm Alice Spain Causes Major FloodingWinds will also get stronger later in the week, with gusts up to 25 km/h. Local officials are now checking the damage to homes, roads and farmland—especially in low areas like Es Pratet in Ibiza Town. People are asked to avoid going out unless necessary and to keep an eye on official updates.