Lorraine Williamson
Spain is battling two very different weather emergencies this Saturday, with torrential rain causing serious flooding in Tarragona while a wildfire continues to burn through the Sierra Calderona farther south. Hundreds of people have been evacuated because of flooding in Catalonia, while around 1,000 remain displaced from Gátova as firefighters try to contain a blaze that has already burned more than 600 hectares.
The dramatic contrast comes after a prolonged period of extreme heat and major wildfires across Spain. Now, thunderstorms and intense rainfall are creating a different set of problems, while also contributing to the risk of new fires through lightning strikes.
AEMET warned of strong or very strong showers along the Tarragona and Castellón coasts on Saturday, with thunderstorms also affecting other areas of eastern Spain.
Torrential rain floods Tarragona coast
Some of the most serious flooding has affected Baix Penedès and northern Tarragonès, including Roda de Berà, Creixell, Torredembarra, and El Vendrell.
Rainfall totals have exceeded 200 litres per square metre in some locations. Streets and low-lying areas have flooded, vehicles have been caught in the water, and emergency services have responded to scores of incidents.
Seven people have been reported injured during the episode. At the port of Roda de Berà, three people were trapped after a wall collapsed, with one critically injured. Emergency medical teams have also attended to dozens of people during the severe weather.
Hundreds of people have had to leave campsites and other premises as a precaution. Around 150 young people were also moved from a nightclub in El Vendrell to a nearby school, while temporary shelters were opened in affected communities.
The flooding has caused problems for both road and rail travel. Services through Sant Vicenç de Calders have been disrupted, while flooding has also affected roads, including stretches of the N-340 and AP-7.
Fire still threatens Gátova
Around 200 kilometres farther south, emergency teams are confronting the opposite extreme.
The forest fire that began near Segorbe in Castellón has now burned around 633 hectares and remains uncontrolled, with two active fronts. The flames have entered the Sierra Calderona Natural Park, and around 1,000 people remain evacuated from Gátova.
Around 350 personnel are involved in the operation, supported by 25 aircraft as well as members of the Military Emergency Unit (UME). Crews worked through the night to stop the flames from crossing the CV-25 and advancing towards Gátova.
Conditions improved overnight as humidity increased and winds eased, but firefighters face a more difficult period during Saturday afternoon as temperatures rise and winds strengthen.
The fire is particularly notable because it was sparked during the thunderstorms that swept across eastern Spain this week. Lightning, therefore, sits at the centre of both sides of this weekend’s weather story: storms are bringing dangerous rainfall while also creating new ignition points in exceptionally dry countryside.
Some of Spain’s biggest fires are finally improving
The latest emergency comes as firefighters make progress on several of the major wildfires that have dominated the news during August.
The Las Hurdes fire in Cáceres was declared stabilised on Friday evening. The emergency level has been reduced, and the remaining restrictions affecting El Gasco, Cerezal, and Martilandrán have been lifted, allowing residents to move freely again.
The Peñas de Riglos fire in Huesca has also reached a much more favourable position after an enormous firefighting operation lasting more than a week.
Those improvements do not mean the wildfire danger has disappeared. The Segorbe blaze demonstrates how quickly a new emergency can emerge, particularly when thunderstorms bring lightning to vegetation dried out by prolonged summer heat.
More storms remain possible
AEMET warnings remain in place across parts of eastern Spain on Saturday. Tarragona is among the areas under warnings for further heavy rain and storms, while warnings also cover parts of Castellón.
People in areas affected by flooding should avoid rivers, streams, ravines, and low-lying roads, and motorists should never attempt to drive through floodwater.
Meanwhile, people close to the Sierra Calderona fire should follow instructions from emergency authorities and avoid travelling towards the affected area.
For Spain’s emergency services, Saturday presents an unusual challenge: dealing with the destructive consequences of too much water in one region while hundreds of firefighters continue battling flames in another.