A submerged vehicle is captured in the Barcelona suburbs of Castelldefels on November 4, 2024, as heavy rains batter Catalonia. Photo: AFP

As Spain braces for further flooding and fatalities as rain continues to deluge Catalonia, the UAE Mission in Madrid has issued a new alert to its citizens. The Mission advised citizens to take extra care due to the extreme weather conditions in the Catalonia region.

Spain's national weather agency, AEMET, has declared the end of the emergency for Valencia, but heavy rains have now hit Catalonia, prompting residents to receive phone alerts urging extreme caution. The death toll currently stands at 217, with nearly all fatalities occurring in the eastern Valencia region. The country fears the discovery of more bodies as an unknown number of people remain unaccounted for.

Local authorities in Valencia have extended travel restrictions for an additional two days, canceled classes, and urged residents to work from home to aid the emergency services. The UAE authorities in Madrid also stressed the importance of adhering to safety guidelines issued by local authorities and encouraged citizens to contact them in case of emergencies at 0097180024 or 00971800444444, and to register for the Tawajudi service.

In a grim scenario, thousands of soldiers, police officers, civil guards, and firefighters have been working for a sixth day to distribute aid and clear mud and debris in search of bodies. However, relief efforts only reached some towns days after the disaster, and in many cases, volunteers were the first to provide essential supplies such as food, water, sanitation, and cleaning equipment.

On Monday, divers focused their search for missing bodies in garages and a multi-storey car park in the town of Aldaia. The storm trapped many victims in their vehicles on roads and in underground spaces like car parks, tunnels, and garages, making rescue operations particularly challenging.

Storms originating from the Mediterranean are typical during this season. However, scientists have cautioned that human-induced climate change is intensifying the severity, duration, and frequency of extreme weather events.

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