A man has died after the vehicle he was driving was swept away by floodwater while crossing a stream in Olivella, in Barcelona's Garraf comarca, during a night of severe storms.

The man's body was located in the early hours of Thursday, around 500 metres from the point where the vehicle had been swept away by the current.

Bombers de la Generalitat confirmed that the body had been recovered, while Mossos d'Esquadra confirmed that the deceased man was the driver of the vehicle.

Emergency Services Launched Search After 23:00

The emergency operation began after a witness alerted the 112 emergency service at around 23:03 on Wednesday night after seeing a vehicle being swept away by the water.

Bombers de la Generalitat deployed 11 units to the area, including specialist personnel from the GRAESub water and underwater rescue group, together with drones to assist with the search.

The operation continued through the night as emergency teams searched the area around the stream.

Body Found Around 500 Metres Away

The man's body was eventually located approximately 500 metres from where the vehicle had been swept away.

According to the Bombers, the body was found in an accessible area and was subsequently recovered.

Mossos d'Esquadra later confirmed that the person found was the driver of the vehicle.

Severe Weather Hit the Area

The incident occurred during a period of intense rainfall and storms affecting parts of Catalonia.

Protecció Civil had activated the Inuncat emergency plan and issued an Es-Alert to several Barcelona-area counties because of the risk posed by violent weather, including sudden flooding.

The alert covered areas including Barcelonès, Maresme, Baix Llobregat, Garraf, Vallès Occidental, Alt Penedès and Baix Penedès.

Heavy Rain Caused Multiple Incidents

Olivella was among the areas affected by the intense rainfall.

Emergency services received numerous reports of flooding and water-related incidents across Barcelona and surrounding areas during the night.

In parts of the Garraf comarca, rainfall totals reached around 80 litres per square metre during the episode, according to reports on the storm.

The heavy rain also caused flooding and disruption elsewhere in Catalonia, affecting roads, public transport and other infrastructure.

Emergency Teams Warned of Flash-Flood Risk

The conditions highlighted the dangers posed by rapidly rising water levels in streams and low-lying areas during intense storms.

Protecció Civil's emergency messaging warned residents to take particular care around flood-prone areas and to follow instructions from emergency authorities.

The incident in Olivella occurred during precisely such a period of sudden and intense rainfall.

Search Operation Ends With Fatal Outcome

The discovery of the driver's body brought the overnight search operation to an end.

At the time of the latest reports, authorities had confirmed the death of the driver but had not provided further details about his identity.

The incident remains one of the most serious consequences of the severe weather that affected parts of Catalonia overnight.

A Warning About Driving During Flash Floods

The incident also underlines the risks of attempting to cross streams or flooded roads during periods of intense rainfall.

Water levels can rise rapidly and currents can become strong enough to move vehicles, making apparently passable crossings extremely dangerous.

Authorities continue to advise people to avoid flooded areas and follow emergency warnings during episodes of torrential rain.