The Catalan Government Declares a Drought Emergency in Barcelona and Surrounding Areas

The Catalan Government has declared a drought emergency in Barcelona and surrounding areas, triggering the most restrictive phase of its drought plan. This decision, announced today, impacts approximately six million people and comes after months of dwindling reservoir levels and rainfall deficits.

The declaration moves the affected regions into the “exception” phase, imposing strict water usage limits. Key measures include reducing water consumption for agriculture by 50%, industrial use by 25%, and restricting municipal use to 200 liters per person per day. Violations of these restrictions will be subject to fines.

Reservoir levels across Catalonia are critically low, currently averaging around 16%.The Sau and Suso reservoirs, vital water sources for the region, are particularly depleted. Authorities have warned that without notable rainfall in the coming weeks, even more drastic measures, such as water cuts, may become necessary.

The drought is attributed to a prolonged period of low rainfall, exacerbated by climate change. The Catalan Government is urging residents and businesses to conserve water wherever possible and is exploring alternative water sources, including desalination and the reuse of treated wastewater, to mitigate the crisis.

The emergency declaration underscores the growing water stress facing many regions in Southern Europe and highlights the urgent need for enduring water management practices.Further updates will be provided as the situation evolves.

Flu Cases Double in Catalonia, Exceeding Moderate Transmission Level

The incidence of influenza in Catalonia continues to rise during the last week analyzed and has already doubled the figures recorded the previous week, exceeding the moderate level of transmission, as revealed by the latest report from the Facts System for the Surveillance of Infections in Catalonia (SIVIC). The data corresponding to the period from November 24 to 30 show that the rate has reached 164 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, while the previous week was 82.

The increase in cases began five weeks ago, an evolution that experts consider premature with respect to the usual pattern of the flu season. Currently, 21% of the samples analyzed have tested positive, with a predominance of subtype A (H3N2).

During the week analyzed, 11,122 cases of flu were diagnosed in primary care, almost double the 6,006 detected the previous week.

By age groups, the distribution of diagnoses shows that 769 correspond to children between 0 and 4 years old; 2,692 to children between 5 and 14 years old; 4,462 people between 15 and 44 years old; 1,885 in the group between 45 and 59 years old; 623 to people between 60 and 69 years old; 414 in the 70 to 79 age group; and 277 to those 80 years and older.