
10 years after the floods in South-West France, Catalonia was next to experience a major event. It occurred between 16 to 20 October 1940,
in political circumstances that hid it from national news coverage.
On the French side, the Tech, Têt and Agly river valleys were inundated with record rainfall, estimated by Maurice Pardé*, head of flood research, to be more than 1,000 mm on 17 October alone at St Laurent-de-Cerdans and totalling 1,930 mm in 5 days.
The floods resulted in 57 deaths, half of them in Amélie les Bains, on the banks of the Tech.
On the Spanish side of the Pyrenees, the loss of life was worse, with more than 200 deaths recorded in Girona.

Photo: N. Castagne, source ONF/RTM* 66.

the valley when it suddenly gave way.
Photo: ET1, source ONF/RTM* 66.

in the Tech valley where the RN 15
main road was blocked.
Photo: E.T.1, source ONF/RTM 66.

the flood. The bolted rails remain suspended in mid-air.
Photo: Claire Guyot, source ONF/RTM 66.