Olivella driver killed as vehicle swept away by floodwaters

A man has died after his vehicle was swept away by a flash flood in Olivella, located in the Garraf region of Barcelona, during a period of intense torrential rainfall. The incident occurred late Wednesday night when a witness reported seeing a car fall into a riera, or seasonal watercourse.

Emergency responders, including the Bombers de la Generalitat, deployed drones and specialized underwater rescue teams to search the area. The victim's body was located in the early hours of Thursday, approximately 500 meters from the vehicle. Mossos d’Esquadra confirmed the deceased was the driver of the car.

The severe weather triggered multiple Es-Alert emergency notifications across various Catalan regions, including Barcelonès, Maresme, and Baix Llobregat, warning of violent weather and rising water levels. By Thursday morning, emergency services had responded to approximately 270 calls related to the storm, primarily involving flooding in buildings and on public roads.