Vilassar stream sweeps away a van with its driver inside during intense Saturday rainfall, in a dramatic incident that ended with the man escaping unharmed.
The event occurred this afternoon along the Camí del Mig in Vilassar de Mar, where a swollen watercourse carried the vehicle a considerable distance.
Vilassar Stream Incident Prompts Major Emergency Response
Local police were first alerted to the alarming situation.
Your browser does not support the video tag.
Consequently, they immediately notified the Generalitat’s fire service, who joined the search operation. Emergency teams eventually located the empty van and, shortly afterwards, found the driver nearby. The man explained to rescuers that after being swept along by the powerful current, he had managed to exit the vehicle under his own power and emerged completely unscathed.
This episode forms part of a wider bout of severe weather affecting Barcelona and its surrounding areas in recent hours. The heavy rainfall is now expected to move north overnight, impacting the Maresme region and Girona province. Accordingly, Civil Protection has reiterated warnings for people to pay special attention around the area’s many watercourses.
Furthermore, authorities are urging the public to avoid unnecessary travel and to never attempt to cross rivers, ravines, or flood-prone zones. The regional weather service, Meteocat, reported that rainfall this afternoon was particularly concentrated over Maresme, with some locations experiencing intense downpours. For instance, the city of Mataró recorded 15.9 litres per square metre in just half an hour.
Meteocat forecasts that rain will continue into the early hours in Girona. Meanwhile, a new frontal system is predicted to cross Catalonia from west to east by Sunday afternoon, bringing further precipitation. Temperatures are also set to drop significantly following the storms.
This dramatic Vilassar stream incident serves as a stark reminder of the sudden dangers posed by flash flooding during intense rainfall. Residents across the affected regions are advised to stay informed through official channels and heed all safety warnings as the unsettled weather continues.
Join our WhatsApp broadcast channel for instant news updates!
Source: Read original article
