A ferocious storm has battered Spain’s Tarragona, with huge hailstones reportedly killing around 100 pigeons and leaving streets flooded across the coastal city.
The violent weather struck on Monday, unleashing torrential rain, strong winds and hail that caused widespread disruption. Shocking footage showed dozens of dead pigeons scattered across the ground at Tarragona Port after being caught in the storm.
Videos from the area also captured the sheer force of the downpour, with floodwater rushing through streets and turning roads into fast-moving rivers. One man was reportedly swept along by the powerful current as residents struggled to navigate the flooded areas.
The storm also caused structural damage, including the partial collapse of a shopping centre roof. Emergency crews were called out to deal with flooded basements, fallen trees and damaged vehicles, while more than 1,000 emergency calls were reportedly made as the weather swept through the region.
At least three people were injured and taken to hospital following the storm. Firefighters also worked to clear roads blocked by fallen trees, some of which had landed on cars.
The extreme conditions disrupted Spain’s Vuelta a Espana cycling race, with the third stage cancelled because of safety concerns. Riders were forced to stop and seek shelter from the hail while travelling towards the Font-Romeu ski resort in the French Pyrenees.
The storm was part of a wider spell of severe weather affecting parts of Spain. At least 11 people were injured during another bout of extreme weather around Roda de Bera, north of Tarragona, earlier in the weekend.
Among those hurt was an 18-year-old woman who was left fighting for her life after a seafront wall collapsed on her. Other people were also injured in the incident.
Meanwhile, the Balearic Islands were hit by a series of mini-tsunamis known locally as rissagues. The unusual waves affected areas including Ibiza, Alcudia, Andratx, Soller and Port Adriano near Magaluf.
In San Antonio, Ibiza, a concert was suspended after s’Arenal beach was flooded by the sudden surge of water. The phenomenon is linked to rapid changes in atmospheric pressure rather than earthquakes or other seismic activity.
The latest weather chaos has added to a growing series of extreme conditions affecting holiday destinations across the region, prompting renewed warnings for residents and tourists to take shelter when severe storms strike.
