A severe Barcelona windstorm battered Catalonia with hurricane-force gusts, claiming a life. Authorities confirmed this on Friday morning. A 46-year-old woman died at Vall d’Hebron Hospital. She had been admitted in critical condition after a collapsing roof struck her.
The victim sustained injuries on Thursday. Part of an industrial warehouse roof in Barcelona gave way under the intense gale. Despite emergency medical intervention, she succumbed to her injuries early this morning. Consequently, she is one of nine people hospitalised across the region. Accidents involving falling walls, trees, and other debris caused these injuries.
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Record Emergency Calls and Widespread Damage from the Severe Barcelona Windstorm
The storm system brought widespread disruption to the metropolitan area. It generated the highest volume of wind-related emergency calls ever recorded in a single episode. Therefore, the 112 emergency service line received over 4,500 calls. Residents reported fallen infrastructure and hazardous conditions.
Meteorological data recorded extreme wind speeds throughout the day. For instance, gusts reached 166 kilometres per hour in Puig Sesolles (Vallès Oriental). Meanwhile, they hit 105 km/h at the Port of Barcelona. Even within the dense urban fabric of the Raval neighbourhood, winds were clocked at 87 km/h.
Transport and Public Services Halted by the Severe Barcelona Windstorm
The intensity of the weather event forced preventative closures. Schools closed and authorities suspended all non-urgent healthcare activities and sporting events on Thursday. Transport infrastructure was heavily impacted. Severe delays and service cuts affected the Rodalies commuter rail network.
Air travel was also significantly disrupted. Approximately 100 flights were cancelled at El Prat Airport due to the dangerous conditions. Furthermore, heavy goods vehicles were restricted from travelling through La Jonquera. This key border crossing point remained closed until early afternoon to prevent accidents on the motorway.
By 4:00 PM, the Generalitat (Government of Catalonia) issued an ES Alert. This downgraded the emergency status and lifted the recommendation against travel, as the most severe front of the storm passed.
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