Besòs River Park has closed its gates as emergency services activate flood protocols following torrential rains across northern Barcelona.
The precautionary measure, implemented on Tuesday afternoon, comes as Civil Protection warned of potential overflow from the central channel within hours.
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Consequently, authorities have urged the public to avoid the area until further notice.
Emergency Response Activated Across Besòs River Park
The park’s emergency plan entered its Alert Phase, leading to the immediate closure of the entire riverside recreational area. Meanwhile, Civil Protection activated the Inuncat flood protocol across the region. The Besòs River’s water level reached a significant 98.7 centimetres, with a flow rate of 61.8 cubic metres per second. This figure, while lower than the intense rains of early November, still exceeds the 50 m³/s threshold that raises flood risks in sensitive areas.
Firefighters responded to 165 rain-related incidents from morning until 6pm, with the majority concentrated in the Northern Metropolitan Emergency Region. Badalona was particularly affected, accounting for 24 of the 33 alerts in that operational zone. The situation prompted the closure of the Gorg metro station due to water ingress, while emergency services across the city mobilised their resources.
Transport networks experienced widespread disruption. The Catalan Transit Service reported “many simultaneous incidents” on urban and interurban roads across Barcelona, southern Maresme, and the Vallès regions. Furthermore, Rodalies commuter trains on the R2 and R2 Sud lines faced average delays exceeding 20 minutes due to speed restrictions imposed during the rainfall alert.
The Meteorological Service of Catalonia had issued an observation warning for showers potentially exceeding 100 litres per square metre within 24 hours in Badalona. They recorded intense downpours in northern Barcelona, with some areas receiving over 20 millimetres in just 30 minutes. Authorities noted that accumulated leaf litter in urban streets exacerbated drainage problems, worsening flooding in some locations.
By late afternoon, however, firefighters reported an improving situation as the storm line affecting Barcelona and Vallès Occidental began to weaken. The emergency services 112 line received 511 calls related to the rainfall episode, with a notable increase after 2pm. The Barcelona region accounted for nearly 60% of all alerts.
Civil Protection maintains essential safety recommendations: avoid the closed Besòs River Park, steer clear of flooded underpasses, do not attempt to cross inundated areas, and follow official channel updates. The episode highlights the ongoing challenges of urban water management during extreme weather, a concern also reflected in recent regional flood planning. As conditions stabilise, authorities will assess the full impact of Tuesday’s torrential rains on the Besòs River Park and surrounding infrastructure.
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