Barcelona prepares for torrential rains and possible mini hurricane: transportation, flights and events are suspended

Barcelona is preparing this Saturday for the arrival in the next few hours of what Civil Protection has described as an "exceptional" episode of torrential rains in which a mini hurricane may even form in the Mediterranean. The entire railway system has been suspended, the metro will have severe restrictions and several spaces and events have already warned of their suspension.

Barcelona City Council has activated the Municipal Emergency Action Plan due to the risk of drainage insufficiency in the alert phase due to the forecast of rain and storms in the city during the next few hours.

In a statement, the City Council recommends checking roofs, lightning rods, scrapyards and pipes, as well as disconnecting electrical appliances and bringing pets into the home.

In turn, the Generalitat keeps the Inuncat Plan activated due to the rains, which could leave 200 liters per square meter in 6 hours in some points.

Suspended trains and subways

Adif, for its part, has suspended the circulation of Rodalies, Regional and Media Distancia services throughout Barcelona from 8:00 p.m. The decision is made due to the notice decreed by the Government to reduce mobility.

Neither Rodalies nor FGC will resume service until restrictions are lifted, starting at 2pm on Sunday.

In addition, the Barcelona Metro service will be suspended starting next midnight and will reopen at 5:00 on Sunday.

Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) has made this decision "following instructions from the Generalitat to restrict non-essential travel", reported in a publication in 'X' collected by Europa Press.

During the day, heavy rains had already forced the closure of the platform at the Liceu station on L3 of the Barcelona Metro in the Zona Universitària direction, and some accesses on L1 are also closed at the Urquinaona and Marina stops, L3 in Catalunya and L11 in Can Cuiàs.

The TRAM service has also been suspended in Barcelona. It will offer minimal services until midnight, and at that time it will close to reopen at 5:00 a.m. on Sunday, when it will also have restrictions in the early hours of the day.

Problems in El Prat

The rainy season has also caused flight cancellations and widespread delays at El Prat airport, reports the ACN agency.

At 4:30 p.m., flights from Barcelona to London-Heathrow, Lisbon and Amsterdam were cancelled, while there are delays of between two and four hours on routes to Prague, Zurich, Seville, Tangier, Rome and Dublin.

In parallel, several flights have been canceled at El Prat airport from Alicante, Paris, Glasgow and Palma. In fact, Aena remembers that there is a red notice due to torrential rains on the coast of Barcelona, ​​and recommends taking extreme precautions when traveling and checking with the airline about the status of the flight.

Suspension of activities

The forecast of torrential rains has also forced the suspension of a series of activities that were scheduled in the city. One of them has been the great march against the housing crisis, which has had to be postponed due to weather conditions.

The alert has also forced the suspension of cultural activities, such as the start of the season at the Liceu or the 50th anniversary party at the Teatre Lliure.

The storm has also caused the cancellation of the Petit Camaleons Festival in Sant Cugat. Entities such as the Mercat de les Flors have also announced that they were suspending the performance of 'À GOGO' scheduled for this Saturday, but the show scheduled for tomorrow is maintained. The rain has also forced the suspension of visits to temples such as the Sagrada Família.