Complicated day on the Costa Daurada, especially in the regions of Baix Penedès and Tarragonès, due to the torrential rains this morning that left seven people injured, one of them critical. The Servei Meteorològic de Catalunya issued a warning this Saturday early in the morning for accumulation of rain after quantities close to 200 liters per square meter were recorded on the coast of Baix Penedès in a few hours and more than 110 liters per square meter in some parts of the northern coast of Tarragonès.
During the storm, three people were injured, one of them critically, after being trapped when a wall in the port of Roda de Berà gave way, according to the Firefighters' report after receiving the warning shortly after two in the morning. The critically injured person and another person who is in serious condition have been transferred to the Joan XXIII University Hospital in Tarragona, while the less seriously injured person has been admitted to the Santa Tecla hospital.
The mayor of Roda de Berà, Pere Virgili, explained that those affected by the wall are a family and the daughter is the one who is most seriously ill. The wall given up by the water is that of a house that borders the marina, Virgili added in statements to Rac1.
The heavy rains have also forced the evacuation of around 300 people from the Arc de Roda de Berà campsite, where two other people have been slightly injured, the town's mayor reported. About 120 people have been transferred to the Roda de Berà sports center, set up as a reception center. The mayor added that in the northern area of the municipality about 160 liters per square meter have fallen, but in the coastal area it has been 267 liters per square meter.
In addition, the Sistema d'Emergències Mèdiques (SEM) has assisted two other people from other municipalities affected by the storm with incidents related to traffic when they were surprised by the storm.
On the other hand, a hundred young people from a Vendrell nightclub have been evacuated and transferred by bus to the Pla de Mar school, where a reception center has been opened. Another center has also been set up in the Creixell municipal center.
In addition, firefighters have rescued a person in the Bisbal del Vendrell stream after his car was trapped by the flood.
On the other hand, the storm caused the closure of the N-340 in both directions between Vendrell and Torredembarra due to the flooding of the road. The road has already reopened in this section, as reported by the Servei Català de Trànsit.
Railway traffic was also affected and the flooding of the Sant Vicenç de Calders station forced the circulation of the Rodalies lines R2 Sud, R4, R13, R14, R15, R16, R17 and RT2 to be cut off, after Civil Protection activated the Ferrocat pre-alert. A few minutes after nine in the morning, Civil Protection reported that railway traffic was restored although there may be alterations to the planned schedules.
During the night, Firefighters responded to 192 calls related to the storm and 50 more between seven and ten in the morning. In statements to ACN, the mayor of Vendrell, Kenneth Martínez, explained that it has been a “very long night” and that they have experienced a “situation that we have never seen.” Despite being aware that it was bound to rain and that rain can be significant in the coastal area, they did not expect this volume. “This year it was our turn, now it's time to evaluate and clean up,” he added.
For his part, the accidental mayor of Torredembarra, Vale Pino, commented on Rac1 that in his municipality there is no need to regret "personal injuries" and that they are working to "recover some normality." Pino has highlighted that the municipality has registered 137 liters per square meter between three and four in the morning.
Faced with these episodes of rain, the president of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, has asked for “maximum caution” and has expressed his support to the people affected by the storm. “For the next few hours we continue to be on alert,” he assured.
Given this situation, the authorities ask to avoid streams, ravines and flood-prone areas, in addition to not approaching points of the coastline affected by the waves.
They also recommend that unnecessary trips not be made and that you be informed of the weather forecast and the state of the roads to anticipate possible incidents.
