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Barcelona wakes up after a stormy night: power cuts and transport problems
The severe thunderstorm that hit Barcelona during 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 this 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 area heavily affected. During the afternoon and night, there were disruptions on both the metro and Rodalies, coinciding with the hours when thousands of people were travelling home.
The situation led Protección Civil to activate the ES-alert system at around 21:30. The message, sent to mobile phones, warned of the risk of flash flooding in Barcelonès and Maresme and advised people to avoid unnecessary travel and take extra precautions.
Rainfall was especially intense in the north of Barcelona and in the Collserola area closest to Vallès. The problems with the electricity supply began to be resolved gradually as the night went on.
This Thursday, 17 September, Barcelona is moving past the most intense part of the storm and is trying to get back to its usual pace after a few hours in which the rain affected mobility and basic services in different parts of the city.
The ES-alert used during the storm is a Protección Civil system designed to send emergency warnings 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.