MADRID, Oct 13 — Floods trapped people in vehicles and homes in Spain yesterday as torrential rain drenched the north-eastern Catalonia region, a day after downpours unleashed travel chaos on the Mediterranean island of Ibiza.

Local media shared videos of roaring torrents of brown water tearing through streets and submerging vehicles.

National weather agency AEMET decreed the highest red alert in the province of Tarragona, warning of 180 millimetres of rain in 12 hours in the Ebro river delta.

Catalan fire service spokesman Oriol Corbella told reporters people had been caught by surprise, with people trapped “inside vehicles, in buildings, on ground floors”.

The mayor of the town of Santa Barbara, Josep Lluis Gimeno, told regional television station 3Cat the situation was “very tense” as the night brought heavier deluges.