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The Generalitat Fire Department in northern Spain’s Catalonia has suspended the search for two individuals believed to have been swept away by the force of the Foix River near Cubelles (Barcelona) after flash flooding.

 

After extensive search and rescue efforts across the riverbanks, coastline and out to sea, no evidence was found to confirm their disappearance. Authorities said the search will not resume unless new information comes to light.

 

A witness had reported seeing an adult and a child being dragged away while crossing a wooden footbridge, but no one has been reported missing by relatives or friends.

 

The torrential rain caused by the storm system led the Foix River to swell dramatically, carrying an estimated 200 cubic metres of water per second, much of it released from a nearby reservoir. The impact was felt strongly across Catalonia, where infrastructure and public services have faced serious disruption.

 

In Vilafranca del Penedès, the Alt Penedès Regional Hospital was forced to evacuate 71 patients following severe flooding caused by the collapse of a wall, which left the facility without electricity or water.

 

Patients were transferred to hospitals across the region, including Bellvitge, Viladecans, Igualada, and Martorell, with the SEM emergency service coordinating the effort using 17 ambulances.

 

The Department of Health has redirected urgent care services to the local CAP Nord, which is now operating around the clock, and to nearby hospitals in Sant Pere de Ribes and Vilanova i la Geltrú.

 

The regional health minister, Olga Pané, stated that the hospital is expected to resume normal operations within two to three weeks, with firefighters continuing to work on restoring the building.

 

Meanwhile in Valencia, two women were struck by lightning while sheltering beneath a tree. The older woman, aged 52, went into cardiac arrest and was treated on the scene by emergency services.

 

Her 22-year-old daughter, who has reduced mobility, was also affected. Both were taken to Hospital Clínico de Valencia, where the younger woman was discharged on Sunday, while her mother remains under medical care.

 

In other news: Massive 5.5 magnitude earthquake shakes southern Spain awake https://murciatoday.com/major-earthquake-off-almer%C3%ADa_murcia-coast-felt-across-southern-spain_1000223430-a.html

 

Image: Bomberscat