Barcelona experienced significant disruptions and injuries due to extreme winds from Storm Nils, prompting a maximum alert and the cancellation of numerous flights.
On Thursday, Catalonia faced an unprecedented day of paralysis as Storm Nils brought extreme winds, leading to the activation of the highest level of alert by the Catalan Meteorological Service. The storm caused transportation services to collapse, effectively halting operations across the Barcelona metropolitan area. Officials described the event as exceptional, comparing it to severe windstorms that occurred in 2009 and 2014, which resulted in casualties in nearby locales.
The human impact of the storm was substantial, with healthcare services responding to 86 individuals affected by the inclement weather. Of these, 34 required hospital transfers, with at least nine remaining hospitalized under various medical conditions. Local hospitals, including Vall d’Hebron, reported cases of severe injuries, including one serious case involving a 68-year-old man.
Meteorological authorities are monitoring the situation closely as community members assess the damages and begin recovery efforts. With the storm conditions classified as a maximum alert, residents were cautioned to remain indoors and heed safety advisories. This incident may also raise discussions on emergency preparedness and infrastructure resilience in the face of extreme weather events in urban areas like Barcelona.
