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Barcelona wakes up after a stormy night: power cuts and transport problems
The severe thunderstorm that swept through Barcelona on the afternoon and night of 16 September caused power cuts in several neighbourhoods, disruptions on the metro and Rodalies, and a warning from Protección Civil due to the risk of flooding. On 17 September, the city is gradually returning to normal after several hours of heavy rain.
Barcelona woke up on Thursday after a particularly difficult night due to the storm. The rain and lightning caused intermittent power outages in areas such as Sarrià – Sant Gervasi, Gràcia y Nou Barris, affecting hundreds of residents, as well as homes and businesses.
Transport was another of the most affected areas. During the afternoon and night, there were incidents on both the metro and Rodalies, coinciding with the hours when thousands of people were travelling home.
The ES-alert used during the storm is a Protección Civil system designed to send emergency alerts directly to the mobile phones of people in a risk area. It is reserved for situations where it is necessary to quickly communicate safety instructions to the public.