Apocalypse in Catalonia: Trains halted, airports and schools blocked – storm shows no signs of letting up

Windy conditions forced the authorities to suspend rail traffic between Terrassa and Manresa, as well as between Blanes and Maçanet, El País reported.

The stations in Malgrat de Mar and Premià de Mar were closed due to the risk of canopy collapse, and trains are operating at a reduced speed of 80 kilometers per hour.

At El Prat Airport, around 30 flights were canceled and four were diverted due to winds reaching speeds of up to 61 kilometers per hour, with gusts exceeding 90 km/h.

The Catalan government has closed all schools and universities and canceled all sporting activities, while non-urgent medical procedures have been postponed. Citizens have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel and, if possible, to work from home.

Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni urged residents to take extraordinary precautionary measures. Catalonia’s meteorological service has placed the region under red and orange alerts, describing the storm as the strongest in the past 15 to 20 years. Civil protection authorities are advising residents to secure windows and doors, remove items from balconies and terraces, and exercise particular caution near trees, walls, and construction sites.