The Generalitat Firefighters are searching for the driver of a vehicle that they found flooded in the Giola stream in Llinars del Vallès (Barcelona) during the rain storm that affects Catalonia this Friday. They received the notice at 2:32 p.m. and activated 16 crew members, including members of the underwater unit of the Special Actions Group (GRAE) and a helicopter.
After accessing the interior of the vehicle, flooded in the middle of the river, they have not located anyone inside and have begun the search for the possible driver.
Storm Regina has dumped rain in various parts of Catalonia, in some cases exceeding 100 liters per square meter, which has caused the rivers in Girona to rise, in some points reaching the danger threshold due to overflowing.
The storm, Meteocat has reported, has left more than 100 mm of rain (or liters per square meter) between Thursday and Friday in points of the regions of Vallès Oriental (Barcelona), Baix Ebre (Tarragona), Osona (Barcelona) or Ripollès and Alt Empordà (Girona). In the regions of Girona, the intense rains have caused the rivers to rise significantly, which is why the Civil Protection of the Generalita has asked for caution and not to approach their beds.
Throughout this Friday, the Catalan Water Agency (ACA) has issued various warnings for river flooding, all of them in the province of Girona. The Ter, in Sant Joan de les Abadesses, with 82.1 cubic meters per second (m3/s) of flow, is at risk of overflowing. Also two of its tributaries: the Ger, as it passes through Torelló (78 m3/s), and the Brugent, in Amer (36).
The Muga river, in Sant Llorenç de la Muga, is also at the danger threshold (84.6 m3/s), as well as the Tordera, in Fogars de la Selva (94.5m3/s).
The storm, which has left rain throughout Catalonia since last Thursday, is beginning to ease, but Meteocat has highlighted that the rainfall could last until the weekend, so there may be accumulation of water.
Civil Protection has warned that increases in river flows may persist in the coming hours. As a result of the rainfall, two roads in Girona are closed due to flooding: the GIV-6226 in Garrigàs and the GI-552 in Riells Viabrea.
Due to landslides, an alternative lane and passage has been cut on the N-260 in Riudaura (Alt Empordà) and on the GI-543 between Espinelves (Osona) and Arbúcies (Selva). Given the expected intense rains and the internal basins with reserves of almost 93%, the ACA decided to begin draining the reservoirs of Darnius, Boadella, La Baells, Foix and Susqueda in the middle of the week.
