The early hours of Sunday to Monday has left in the south of Tarragona images reminiscent of the worst of the DANA of 2024 in Valencia: streets turned into rivers, cars floating between ravines and neighbors evacuated with water to the waist.
The south of the province of Tarragona is experiencing one of the most difficult nights in recent years. The torrential rains associated with the DANA Alice have caused historic floods that have forced more than a thousand people to sleep outside their homes, especially in the region of Montsià, the hardest hit by the storm.
We tell you the details and the main information channels to keep you up to date.
Affected municipalities in Catalonia
The Generalitat de Catalunya has declared a state of emergency in five regions of southern Tarragona: Montsià, Baix Ebre, Ribera d’Ebre, Baix Camp and Terra Alta. Here, several municipalities have experienced floods similar to those in the cities of the neighboring community.
The measure includes the suspension of classes, non-essential social services and non-urgent medical consultations, with the aim of reducing travel and ensuring safety.
President Salvador Illa went to Tortosa to participate in the emergency committee of the Inuncat plan, from where he warned that “the torrential rains are not over”. According to Illa, the forecast points to rainfall of more than 40 liters in half an hour throughout the day, especially in Terres de l’Ebre.
Godall and Santa Bàrbara are some of the most affected municipalities, but there are more: in La Ràpita, the water reached a meter and a half high in some streets and in Amposta, the scene was repeated: dozens of people took refuge in a municipal pavilion enabled emergency, where they spent the night on improvised mats, attended by Red Cross volunteers and municipal staff. Others like Alcanar, Ulldecona or Freginals have also experienced emergency episodes.
Orange alert
The State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) maintains the orange alert in Tarragona by significant risk of rainfall that could leave up to 40 liters per square meter in an hour, while the rest of the province remains on yellow alert. The storm is not limited to Catalonia: Castellón, Valencia, Alicante, Ibiza and Formentera are also under orange warning, and Mallorca under yellow alert. In total, seven autonomous communities remain this Monday on alert for intense storms.
The Red Cross estimates that it has assisted about 500 people in temporary shelters in Montsià. In Amposta, more than 200 drivers were forced to spend the night in a pavilion after the closure of the AP-7 and the N-340. In Ulldecona, fifty people remain housed in another emergency center, which can only be accessed from Vinaròs (Castellón).
Roads and trains: mobility practically paralyzed
The AP-7 between Ulldecona and Freginals has partially reopened early this morning in the southbound direction, although one of the lanes is still closed for cleaning. On the other hand, the N-340 remains closed in two critical sections: Vinaròs (Barcelona direction) and Alcanar (Valencia direction).
Other secondary roads also remain closed, such as the TV-3408 in Amposta, the TP-3317 in Freginals, the CV-603 in Cullera or the EI-800 in Sant Jordi de ses Salines (Ibiza).
Rail transport is also suspended, with 17 trains and more than 3,000 passengers affected by the service interruption during Sunday. We tell you all the details in this article.
You can find out about the roads affected and cut by the rain in the profile of the DGT in X (@DGTes).
Where to get information and what to do if you are affected
The Generalitat recommends following updates through @emergenciescat, the Servei Meteorològic de Catalunya (@meteocat) and the official profiles of 112. In case of emergency, it is requested not to try to cross flooded areas or drive on secondary roads.
Renfe reminds that it will contact by SMS or email with travelers affected by the cuts and that modifications or refunds will have no additional cost.