Civil Protection in Barcelona activated the municipal emergency plan on Thursday after persistent rainfall raised the risk of drainage insufficiency across the city. The downpours, coinciding with Catalonia’s National Day, were particularly heavy along the seafront and forced emergency crews into action.
Firefighters reported several flooded basements that required pumping, while municipal services urged residents to take precautions such as checking rooftops and gutters, unplugging electrical devices, and securing outdoor objects that might be swept away by water. Drivers were also warned to exercise extreme caution.
The rain also disrupted the day’s commemorative events. Traditional morning floral offerings at the Rafael Casanova monument went ahead, but other planned gatherings were cancelled or scaled back. A tribute to Gustau Muñoz organised by Arran was called off, as was an independence rally at the Fossar de les Moreres that had been due to feature ANC president Lluís Llach. Òmnium Cultural replaced its main political act at the Arc de Triomf with media statements by its president Xavier Antich.
Even political parties were forced to adjust: the Catalan People’s Party shifted its planned event indoors to party headquarters. The city council said the alert would remain in place as long as rainfall continued and flooding risks persisted.
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