“It was terrifying,” José Álvarez recalled of the weekend storms that transformed Barcelona’s hillside Font del Gos neighborhood into a destructive, mud-choked torrent.
The extreme weather heavily impacted vulnerable hillside communities including Font del Gos, Torre Baró, and Sant Genís dels Agudells, leaving residents to contend with extensive property destruction and renewed infrastructure concerns.
Midnight Rescues on Torrent de Cal Notari
During the peak of the storm between Saturday night and Sunday morning, firefighters deployed boats to navigate the rushing waters of carrer Torrent de Cal Notari and rescue six families stranded by the rising torrent. Some residents had climbed onto their roofs as the only remaining dry ground.
For Álvarez, who lives in a house that belonged to his grandmother, the floodwaters surged rapidly into his ground-floor patio. Trapped inside by security bars on his windows and intense water pressure blocking his front door, he broke through the entry to escape with his 14-year-old daughter. Waist-deep in rushing water and debris, the pair scaled a wall to reach the second-floor balcony of neighbors Sílvia Rodríguez and Jordi Cortijo.
From that vantage point, they watched the street transform into a raging river and witnessed firefighters arrive by boat to rescue Enrique Jiménez and his family members, who had taken refuge on a completely submerged rooftop.
Widespread Devastation in Mountain Neighborhoods
By Monday morning, municipal firefighters ordered a new evacuation of the neighborhood amid fears that fresh, unexpected storms would trigger further flooding. Heavy machinery deployed by the city council worked through Tuesday to clear deep mud and debris blocking the roads.
Jiménez’s home sustained the most severe structural damage, with floodwaters reaching an estimated two meters high. The deluge destroyed his roof and furniture, washing one of his refrigerators meters down the mountainside. Having spent 40 years building and living in the home, Jiménez stated he must now start completely from scratch.
Similar destruction struck neighboring areas. In Torre Baró, residents organized community clean-up efforts to shovel thick mud from the streets, while Sant Genís dels Agudells faced lingering road closures due to approximately 50 separate landslides recorded over the weekend.
Residents Blame Bus Depot for Drainage Failures
As recovery efforts continued, residents questioned the adequacy of local drainage systems installed by city authorities in recent years. Many pointed specifically to the construction of a nearby TMB bus depot as a major factor altering natural water flow. Jiménez noted that runoff previously flowed freely down the ravine before encountering the depot and backing up directly into residential properties.
City officials maintained an active presence in the area following the disaster. Sara Belbeida, the city councillor for the Horta-Guinardó district, visited the Font del Gos neighborhood three times starting Sunday to establish direct communication with affected families, while municipal teams maintained constant monitoring of the recovery operation.
Rain Predictions Hamper Mud Clearing Efforts
With more than a meter of mud coating patios and damaging vehicles—including a work van and a car retrieved by tow truck on Monday—residents kept constant watch on incoming weather forecasts. Ongoing rain predictions hampered cleaning efforts, leaving homeowners unable to dry out soaked interiors and personal belongings.
Municipal workers continue clearing operations across Horta-Guinardó mountain sectors as emergency services remain on alert for subsequent weather warnings.
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