A mother is feared dead after being swept into a swollen stream while trying to cross it with her daughter during severe flooding in Spain.
The woman, who is in her 40s and comes from Malgrat de Mar, disappeared at about 7.30pm on Saturday in Cabrera de Mar, around 18 miles from Barcelona.
The family had been returning to their car after playing basketball in the town when they encountered the fast-flowing water. The woman’s husband managed to prevent their daughter from being carried away, but his wife was swept downstream.
Six firefighter units, police divers and drones have joined the search for the missing woman.
Oscar Fernandez, the mayor of Cabrera de Mar, said: “A family attempted to cross the stream on foot.
“One of its members was swept away by the water, which was surging with great force due to the heavy rainfall. We have no further information at this time.”
Storm Adam brings life-threatening flood warnings
The incident came as Storm Adam battered southern and eastern Spain, with emergency services responding to more than 100 calls since torrential rain began on Saturday. Many involved people trapped in vehicles in floodwater.
Videos showed recycling bins and a car being carried downstream, while a truck was left stranded in rapidly rising muddy water. Streets in parts of the country were submerged and basements flooded.
From 10am on Sunday, the Costa Blanca was due to be placed under a rare “danger to life” warning until 10am on Monday. Spain’s state weather forecaster Aemet also issued a red alert covering Malaga city, Torremolinos, Fuengirola, Marbella, Estepona, Nerja and the Axarquia region.
Aemet warned: “The meteorological danger is extraordinary. Property and vulnerable populations or in exposed areas could suffer very serious or catastrophic impacts.”
The southern coast of Valencia and northern Alicante could see up to 300mm of rain throughout Monday, while between 250mm and 350mm was expected in Valencia and surrounding areas over a 24-hour period.
Tourists and residents were advised to remain indoors, avoid non-essential travel and keep away from low-lying roads, riverbeds and beaches. People in Valencia received an emergency alert on their phones on Saturday afternoon telling them to stay inside.
Public buildings including libraries, cemeteries and gardens were closed, while football matches and concerts were cancelled. Roads were also shut or restricted because of fears of landslides.
Flooding affected El Palo, east of Malaga city centre, and areas further inland in Axarquia, where thousands of British expatriates live. The south-eastern province of Almeria was also badly hit, with cars trapped and basements flooded in municipalities including El Ejido.
Two elderly people were rescued after becoming trapped in their cars in floodwater in Sentmenat, in Catalonia’s Valles Occidental region.
No injuries or deaths had been reported from this weekend’s flash floods at the time of the search for the missing woman.
