The region of Catalonia is currently experiencing dramatic hours. Following heavy and continuous rainfall from Wednesday night into Thursday morning, the Catalan Water Agency (ACA) has issued an alarm for the Foix reservoir in the province of Barcelona. The precarious situation, triggered by the overflow of the reservoir, leads to serious concerns and already visible impacts in the affected areas.
Foix Reservoir Overflow: A Danger to Neighboring Communities
The ACA issued an urgent warning via ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) early Thursday morning: the alarm threshold at the Foix reservoir has been exceeded. With an impressive discharge of 20.5 cubic meters per second (m³/s), the water masses are flowing uncontrolled from the reservoir. This dramatic development has direct consequences for the municipalities of Castellet i la Gornal and Cubelles, both located in the province of Barcelona. Significant damage is now expected to the lower riverbeds of the Foix. Residents are urged to exercise extreme caution.
Traffic Gridlock in Barcelona: Key Road Connections Cut Off
The effects of the severe weather are not limited to the immediate vicinity of the reservoir. The Catalan Traffic Service (SCT) also reported on ‘X’ the closure of two important road connections. The B-112 in Collbató has been closed in this section since Wednesday evening at 6:33 PM. In addition, the BV-2117 in Castellet i la Gornal has been impassable at the height of Barcelona since early Thursday morning at 1:38 AM. Both routes are closed in the direction of the Catalan capital, leading to significant traffic disruptions and affecting commuter flows.
Chronology of Events: From Preventive Discharge to Flood Danger
As early as last Tuesday, in anticipation of the weather forecast for this Wednesday, the ACA had preventively begun the controlled discharge of the reservoir. This was not without reason: two weeks ago, the Foix river in Cubelles had already overflowed its banks and caused flooding. Initial measures seemed effective, as the flow was below 5 m³/s on Wednesday morning. However, the intense rainfall at noon and during the night caused the water level to rise rapidly. The flow continuously increased and exceeded the critical mark of 20 m³/s in the early hours of Thursday morning.
The situation remains tense, and authorities continue to urge the population to be extra vigilant. It is expected that cleanup efforts and damage assessment will continue in the coming days.
