Several lifeguards rescued a woman showing signs of drowning at Barceloneta beach in Barcelona on Saturday afternoon, just hours before the city activated its Municipal Emergency Action Plan due to an imminent risk of flash flooding.

The rescue involved up to three lifeguards and was captured by photojournalist Alejandro Garcia of the EFE agency. The incident occurred while weather conditions deteriorated across the region, with Meteocat raising the danger level to its maximum six-point scale.

I urge maximum caution given the weather forecasts: a Mediterranean mini-hurricane could form in Catalonia.

Catalonia’s president, Salvador Illa, issued the warning via social media on Saturday, as Spain’s meteorological agency AEMET forecast rainfall exceeding 90mm in one hour and over 200mm in less than six hours in parts of Barcelona and Girona provinces.

Emergency measures take effect from 8pm

From 20:00 on Saturday until 14:00 on Sunday, the Generalitat has restricted mobility and suspended all non-essential activities across 20 counties in the coastal and pre-coastal areas of Barcelona, Tarragona, and Girona.

An ES-Alert was sent to mobile phones in affected regions, advising residents to avoid travel and stay clear of rivers, ravines, and flood-prone zones. Sports, cultural, and leisure events have been suspended, along with access to parks, urban gardens, and natural spaces.

  • Parc del Tibidabo, Zoo, Park Güell, and municipal museums closed until Sunday at 14:00
  • All outdoor public events and district festivals (Festes Majors) cancelled
  • Beaches closed; breakwater access restricted
  • Liceu metro station partially closed due to water ingress

Safety advice for residents

Barcelona Civil Protection has urged citizens to check roofs, drains, and downpipes for debris, disconnect electrical appliances, and remove outdoor furniture that could be swept away.

Drivers are advised to reduce speed, avoid flooded roads, even those with shallow water, and maintain safe distances. Pet owners should bring animals indoors, and hazardous materials should be stored safely out of reach of potential floodwater.

Reported by lavanguardia.com, democrata.es, diaricatalunya.cat, Alyssa McMurtry, larazon.es, Europa Press, theolivepress.es, lasexta.com, La Vanguardia Barcelona.