Spain floods kill woman near Barcelona; red alerts issued

Spain is bracing for a powerful Mediterranean storm forecast to intensify on Monday after flooding killed a woman near Barcelona, submerged streets and disrupted transport.

Weather agency AEMET issued its highest red alert for Valencia and Mallorca, warning of “extraordinary danger” from torrential rain in the early hours of Monday.

The Catalan fire service said a woman who fell into a stream on Saturday in Cabrera de Mar, about 25 kilometres northeast of Barcelona, was found dead in the sea.

Emergency services in Valencia, Catalonia, Andalusia and the Balearic Islands reported hundreds of incidents on Sunday involving flooded homes and roads, fallen trees and property damage.

The Balearic Islands regional government suspended classes in Mallorca, Ibiza and Formentera. In Valencia, some commuter trains were suspended until further notice.

In Ibiza, roads were flooded and the main motorway to the airport was closed. Airport operator Aena said 27 flights were cancelled and 16 diverted in Ibiza, while 37 flights were cancelled in Mallorca.

The army sent troops from the mainland to help in Ibiza and Mallorca. Mass phone alerts in parts of Valencia, the Balearic Islands and Andalusia urged people to avoid unnecessary travel.

In Andalusia, emergency services reported dozens of rescues, including 10 people taken from the flooded tunnel of a beach promenade outside Malaga.

Scientists say human-driven climate change is intensifying Mediterranean storms that usually hit eastern Spain in autumn, as warmer seas increase evaporation and rainfall.