Flooding sweeps cars into sea in north-east Spain

Wrecked cars stuck in the shore of the seaside town of Alcanar, in northeastern Spain, Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021. A downpour Wednesday created flash floods that swept cars down streets in the Catalan town of Alcanar. Most of mainland Spain is under alert for heavy rains. (AP Photo/Joan Mateu Parra)

The north-eastern Spanish town of Alcanar is surveying the damage to homes and businesses caused by flooding produced by intense rain that fell on large areas of the country.

Residents said they were fortunate no lives were lost when more than 250 litres per square metre of rain fell on the town between midnight and 6pm on Wednesday.