Torrential rains in Tarragona leave seven injured and force the evacuation of a campsite and a nightclub

Torrential rains struck Tarragona province early Saturday, causing seven injuries and forcing the evacuation of a campsite and a nightclub. The downpours began around midnight and continued through the early hours, leading to flooding in several areas and prompting emergency services to respond to numerous calls for assistance. According to local authorities, three individuals were trapped after a wall collapsed near the Port of Roda de Berà, with one person in critical condition. Emergency crews received alerts shortly after 2 a.m., and rescue operations were underway soon after. The affected regions included parts of the Baix Penedès and northern Tarragonès, where rainfall reached up to 200 liters per square meter in some locations. The meteorological service reported over 140 liters per square meter in El Vendrell and Torredembarra between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., with some areas exceeding this amount. The coastal areas of northern Tarragonès and southern Baix Penedès were particularly impacted, with El Vendrell recording 100 liters in just three hours. Emergency services received nearly 700 calls during the night, with firefighters responding to 192 incidents. Flooding was reported along the maritime front of El Vendrell, with water entering hotel lobbies. Local officials described the situation as severe, noting that heavy rain started around midnight, paused briefly, and then resumed intensely between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. This led to widespread flooding, overwhelming the area’s rivers and drainage systems. In response to the crisis, hundreds of residents were evacuated from affected zones. A hundred young people were transported to the Pla de Mar school, which became a temporary shelter. Additional shelters were set up at the Roda de Berà multi-sports complex and the municipal center in Creixell. These three towns, Roda de Berà, Creixell, and Torredembarra, were among the hardest hit by the storm. Transportation disruptions followed the flooding, with train services on multiple lines suspended due to water ingress at the Sant Vicenç de Calders station. Some rail lines, including R2 South, R4, R13, R14, R15, R16, R17, and RT2, saw service restored later in the morning, albeit with altered schedules. Road closures were also reported, including a lane closure on the AP-7 southbound route near Riera de Gaià and intermittent closures on the N-340 due to flooding. Local authorities confirmed that approximately 400 people had been displaced from their homes, with many taken to temporary shelters. At the Las Sirenas campsite in Creixell, about 300 people were evacuated to the municipal sports complex after floodwaters entered the site. Similarly, a nightclub in Coma-ruga, El Vendrell, was emptied of its patrons, who were relocated to a local school. The mayor of Roda de Berà stated that the incident involved a family attending a local market stall whose home was damaged when a nearby wall collapsed. Two of the injured were taken to the Joan XXIII Hospital in Tarragona, while the third received treatment at the Santa Tecla Hospital. Emergency workers used social media to update the public on developments, confirming that no serious injuries occurred at the campsite despite the extensive flooding. Regional authorities have activated the Inuncat flood warning system, citing the rapid accumulation of rainfall in the Baix Penedès region. Officials warned that further heavy rains could lead to additional flooding in the coming days, urging residents to remain cautious and follow emergency guidelines. President of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, called for vigilance, advising against unnecessary travel and emphasizing the importance of heeding emergency instructions to avoid dangerous areas such as rivers and gullies.