Storm system that caused Valencia floods strikes Barcelona area

By Alyssa McMurtry

OVIEDO, Spain (AA) - Heavy rains triggered significant flooding in the Barcelona area on Monday, as the same storm system that caused devastating Valencia floods still lingers over Spain.

Authorities issued alerts to cell phones in several areas of the Barcelona province, warning residents to avoid all travel.

“Schools are safe places. Don’t go looking for your children. Workers are advised to stay at their workplaces,” read the alert.

Significant flooding has been observed, particularly in the towns of Gava and Castelldefels, where cars have been filmed floating on a highway.

Around 50 flights to Barcelona have been canceled or significantly delayed, according to Spanish daily El Pais. The government of Catalonia also suspended all local rail travel in the region.

In Catalonia, authorities are hoping to avoid even a fraction of the tragedy that occurred last Tuesday, which was concentrated in the province of Valencia.

There, historic rainfall caused river systems to burst, rapidly turning streets into powerful streams of mud and debris.

Residents were caught off guard and ground-floor homes, garages, cars and businesses became deadly.

Spain’s interior minister said the provisional death toll was 217. He still declined to say how many people are thought to be missing, saying authorities are still “unable to give a reliable number.”