Barcelona hit by new flooding as rescuers search Valencia’s basement car park

The Spanish city of Barcelona was hit by floods on Monday as search and rescue efforts continue following the devastating floods around Valencia last week.

Spain’s state meteorological service has issued a red warning to parts of Catalonia for heavy rainfall, with local media showing images of cars partially submerged on a highway.

Parts of Barcelona’s El Prat airport, the country’s second largest, have been flooded. More than 80 flights have been canceled or delayed, while rail services have been suspended.

A similar weather event, which hit the Valencia region last week with a year’s worth of rain, has caused at least 217 deaths. On Monday, rescuers focused their efforts on searching for missing people in underground parking garages.

The storm struck many victims in their vehicles on roads and in underground spaces, such as parking garages, tunnels and garages, where rescue operations are particularly difficult.

Shoppers and workers are feared trapped in the car park of a shopping center in Aldaia, on the outskirts of Valencia, as water flooded the area.

Police have confirmed that no victims were found in the first 50 vehicles inspected at the scene.

But reports suggest that these vehicles were found near the entrance to the parking lot, while much of the rest remains underwater and has yet to be investigated.

Among the dead were a British couple in their 70s, whose family confirmed they had been found dead in their car days after flash floods hit Valencia. No deaths have been reported in Catalonia so far.

On Monday morning, the Spanish Interior Minister refused to say how many were still missing.

European football body UEFA said a minute’s silence will be held at club league matches “in memory of the victims” and those affected by the floods. Real Madrid and Barcelona FC play Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.

Outside the Bonaire Mall in Aldaia, rotting piles of rubble lined the roads as noisy generators pumped water from the mall’s parking lot.

Spanish police used drones to get a first view of the inside, a police spokesman said.

When the BBC asked a local police officer how much longer the operation would take, he said he could not give an estimate but that the teams would stay as long as necessary.

As is the case in many parts of the region devastated by the floods, there is an information vacuum.

There was anger at the perceived lack of warning and insufficient support from authorities following the floods.

The King and Queen of Spain were present on Sunday pelted with mud and other objects by angry demonstrators while visiting the city of Paiporta, one of the worst affected cities in the Valencia region.

Objects were also thrown at Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who was quickly evacuated.

The Guardia Civil has opened an investigation into the chaotic scenes, Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska told public broadcaster TVE.

He blamed “fringe groups” for inciting violence that saw mud splashed on the monarchs’ faces and clothes.

At a press conference on Monday, the head of Spain’s Military Emergency Unit (UME) said it had sent 500 troops to Valencia in advance so they could start work as soon as they were cleared.

General Francisco Javier Marcos said that when he saw the situation worsening, he sent warnings to 1,000 soldiers, who traveled at night “so that the people of Valencia could see at dawn the next day that the armed forces were there”.

He added: “You could say we didn’t act quickly. The weather partly prevented that, and secondly it was a matter of order and discipline.

“You could say this is no reason to be slow. Look, you can’t bring more chaos into an already very chaotic situation.”

Local authorities in Valencia have extended travel restrictions for another two days to facilitate the work of emergency services, canceled school lessons and urged people to work from home.

General Marcos said gridlock on some roads made it difficult to distribute food to the 69 affected municipalities.

He said the number of troops on the ground had been “scaled up” – with 7,800 troops due at 8pm local time (7pm GMT) on Monday. These were supported by 17,000 volunteers and 5,000 army soldiers who provided logistical support, he said.

A warship carrying 104 naval infantry soldiers and trucks carrying food and water docked at the port of Valencia on Monday.

General Marcos said the UME “did everything we could,” including working double shifts.

He added: “We have to be disciplined and patient. I know that’s hard because pain and emotion mean that’s not easy.”

In Catalonia, the Ministry of Ecology said the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) had issued a red alert due to the “extreme danger” of heavy rainfall.

Aemet warns that up to 8cm of rain could fall in coastal areas on Tuesday morning, but that localized rain showers could lead to “very different” accumulations between nearby towns.

The flood in Valencia was caused by a Dana phenomenon when warm, moist air and cold air come together, creating an unstable weather system.

Scientists say the effects of climate change made the flooding worse.

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