Two people are missing in Catalonia after torrential rains triggered widespread flooding across the northeastern region of Spain, emergency services have confirmed.

Search and rescue teams are focusing efforts along the Foix River near the coastal town of Cubelles, some 50 kilometres south of Barcelona, where the two individuals were last seen.

The flooding comes amid a red “extreme risk” weather alert issued by Spain’s national meteorological agency, Aemet. The alert, which also affects neighbouring Aragon, follows hours of intense rainfall, with more than 10 centimetres of rain recorded in parts of the Catalan capital. Weather officials have warned of rainfall intensities reaching up to 60 litres per square metre per hour due to a gota fría (“cold drop”)—a phenomenon where cold upper air masses interact with the warm Mediterranean Sea, triggering violent storms.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has called for “great caution” and advised residents across 10 high-alert regions in northern and eastern Spain to avoid unnecessary travel. In a post on social media platform X, he confirmed the deployment of troops from Spain’s Military Emergency Unit (UME) to assist with relief efforts, particularly in Aragon. “We are closely monitoring the situation,” he wrote.

The extreme weather has caused major disruptions in Catalonia. Spain’s national rail operator, Renfe, suspended all train services in the region due to flooding on tracks and infrastructure damage. Several roads were rendered impassable, and a hospital in Barcelona was forced to turn away patients after its facilities were inundated.

A U.S.-bound flight departing from Barcelona was also forced to return mid-air after hail severely damaged the aircraft’s nose cone.

The incident echoes last year’s deadly flooding in Valencia in October 2024, when 225 people lost their lives in Spain’s worst weather disaster in decades—also attributed to a gota fría event.

Authorities remain on high alert as the search for the missing continues and emergency response teams work to contain further damage. Residents have been urged to follow official advisories and avoid low-lying or flood-prone areas. (ILKHA)