Spain: Catalonia Storm Kills Two and Cancels 385 Barcelona Flights; Housing Protests Turn Violent

October 4, 2026 — Update to our October 3 story. The storm forecast for Catalonia arrived overnight and was worse than most of the region has seen in two decades. Two people died, one is missing, 385 flights were cancelled at Barcelona-El Prat over the weekend, and most commuter rail lines were still shut on Sunday afternoon. Separately, housing protests turned violent in Madrid and Valencia on Saturday.

The storm’s toll

• Casualties: two dead, in Tordera (a wall collapse at a campsite) and Montornès del Vallès (a flooded garage), according to the Catalan government. One young person swept into a stream at Pineda de Mar was still missing on Sunday afternoon.
• Rainfall: 288 mm at Vilassar de Mar, about 248 mm at Granollers and 213 mm at one Barcelona station. Meteocat called it the heaviest rain in twenty years.
• Emergency response: firefighters logged 2,055 call-outs and rescued 205 people. More than 17,600 customers lost power. Granollers hospital flooded.

Barcelona-El Prat airport

• Cancellations: 385 over the weekend — 220 on Saturday and 165 on Sunday — according to Civil Protection figures given to EFE. Airport operator Aena confirmed about 200 for Sunday.
• Delays: about 510 flights on Saturday, roughly half of all operations, and 297 on Sunday.
• We found no published figure for diversions.

Trains, metro and roads (as of Sunday afternoon)

Travel restrictions were lifted at 2 pm Sunday everywhere except Alt Empordà and Baix Empordà, where they were extended to 9 pm because of river-flood risk. Scattered heavy showers remain possible on the Barcelona and Girona coast into Monday morning. Barcelona schools are due to reopen Monday.

Housing protests

• Tens of thousands marched across Spain on Saturday, October 3, after parliament rejected the government’s housing decrees the day before.
• Valencia: police used rubber bullets and tear gas, and about 30 protesters briefly entered the City of Arts and Sciences.
• Madrid: police fired rubber bullets on Saturday night near the protest camp at Puerta del Sol, and three people were arrested.
• Dates for further protests: TBA.

Barcelona bus strikes

No change. Partial TMB bus stoppages remain called for October 8, 14, 15, 20, 22, 27 and 29. Mediation is due Monday, October 5. Minimum services are TBA.

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What it means for airline travelers

• Standby out of Barcelona: expect very few open seats Sunday and Monday. Passengers from 385 cancelled flights are being rebooked ahead of you.
• Getting to El Prat: the metro’s airport line had a gap and the R2 Nord train was suspended on Sunday afternoon. Check TMB and Rodalies before you leave, and allow time for a taxi or the Aerobús.
• Rail tickets: if your Renfe train was cancelled, ask Renfe about a refund or change before buying a new ticket.
• Madrid and Valencia: avoid the Puerta del Sol camp at night and steer clear of marches. Some protests have targeted tourist rentals.
• Insurance: keep cancellation notices and receipts for extra hotel nights and transport.

Sources

• Govern de Catalunya (official) — Es mantenen les restriccions de mobilitat a 8 comarques
• Infobae (EFE) — Cancelados más de 380 vuelos en El Prat este fin de semana
• Infobae (EFE) — El insólito temporal “tropical” en Cataluña causa dos muertos
• El Nacional — Catalunya retoma poco a poco la movilidad
• Crónica Global — Illa anuncia l’aixecament de restriccions
• 3Cat — L’última hora de les tempestes (live)
• Catalunya Press — Dotze carreteres romanen tallades a Barcelona i Girona
• Al Jazeera — Spain protests flare after housing bill rejected
• Metrópoli Abierta — Los autobuses de Barcelona volverán a parar en octubre