The Spanish government has declared three days of national mourning to honor the memory of the victims of the devastating floods that caused at least 70 deaths in the southeast of the country, according to the latest estimates

The mourning period will run from Thursday October 31 to Saturday November 2, as announced on Wednesday by Ángle Víctor Torres, Minister of Territorial Policy. He also said that Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez would visit the scene of the tragedy on Thursday.

V-shaped storm causes catastrophic flooding

In south-eastern Spain, a violent V-shaped thunderstorm was responsible for the devastating floods that caused loss of life and extensive destruction. This meteorological phenomenon is particularly fearsome because, unlike mobile storms, it remains stuck in one geographical area, dumping massive quantities of rain and causing severe flooding.

Weather warnings and risks in Barcelona

Catalonia is in a state of maximum alert this Wednesday. The Catalan meteorological service (Meteocat) has warned of a high risk of hail, strong winds and possible tornadoes around Barcelona. As a precaution, the city’s beaches are expected to be closed for the day, according to Cadena Ser.

To find out more

For a full breakdown of the situation, consult our latest analyses and follow the evolution of extreme weather conditions in Spain.