Storm impact assessed at Besòs River Park
On Sunday 4 October 2026, Núria Parlon, Minister of the Interior and Public Security of the Generalitat, visited the Besòs River Park alongside Mireia González, mayor of Santa Coloma de Gramenet, and Bartolomé Egea, mayor of Montcada i Reixac, to assess damage caused by recent heavy rains in Catalonia. The visit focused on evaluating the effects of flooding along the river corridor, particularly within the fluvial park area shared by several municipalities north of Barcelona.
River remains above normal levels
Parlon issued a public warning via Instagram that the Besòs river continues to flow above its ordinary capacity. She urged residents to exercise caution and follow official guidance. Earlier on Sunday morning, the Catalan government sent an Es-Alert to municipalities near the river due to the risk of overflow.
We must remain vigilant. The river is still high, and safety comes first.
This follows reports of significant rainfall increasing the river’s flow by more than 300 times its usual volume, raising concerns about potential breaches in vulnerable zones.
Ecological recovery efforts under pressure
The Besòs River Park has been the site of major ecological restoration work, including the Refugi de Biodiversitat project launched in early 2022 between Pont Vell and Can Zam. Phase one of the refuge, completed in March 2023, involved constructing three riverbank ponds, planting native trees and shrubs, and installing wildlife support structures such as insect hotels, bird boxes and eel ramps. A second phase, approved in February 2026 with a budget of €2.7 million (including VAT), aims to create ecological connectors linking the river to Can Zam park and the Serralada de Marina range. These efforts, supported by the Ministry for Ecological Transition and funded through the EU’s NextGenerationEU programme, are now being evaluated for storm-related setbacks. Residents who regularly use the park for recreation have reported severe disruptions. One local runner said: I run along the fluvial park often, but it no longer exists, highlighting the extent of erosion and debris accumulation.
Reported by Europa Press, gramenet.cat, refugibiodiversitat.gramenet.cat, fotos.europapress.es, Miriam Saint-Germain, elcorreogallego.es, ajuntamentinforma.gramenet.cat, Europa Press Barcelona.
