Ski-equipped firefighters rescue five people trapped by blizzard between Cerdanya and Berguedà

The specialized GRAE teams had to access the area on foot and skis after the helicopter was grounded due to strong winds and whiteout conditions.

Generic image of a high mountain rescue operation with intense snow and emergency teams.
IA

Generic image of a high mountain rescue operation with intense snow and emergency teams.

The Generalitat Firefighters mobilized GRAE teams equipped with skis on Saturday, January 24, 2026, to assist five people trapped by the blizzard on the road connecting La Molina and Castellar de n'Hug.

The heavy snowfall affecting Catalonia has severely complicated the road situation in Cerdanya and Berguedà, especially on the rural route connecting La Molina with Castellar de n'Hug. Several vehicles became trapped at this point due to large snow accumulations; initially, even five Firefighter units got stuck.
Given the impossibility of road access, an attempt was made to mobilize a rescue helicopter. However, the strong blizzard (torb) prevented the aircraft from reaching the area. Ultimately, the decision was made to send personnel from the Special Actions Support Group (GRAE) from Talló, equipped with skis, to access the location overland.
The specialized teams managed to locate five people who were inside a vehicle experiencing serious difficulties. At the time of the intervention, the Firefighters were working on the evacuation of these individuals, while the remaining trapped vehicles awaited the passage of the snowplow to be freed.
In addition to this incident, the snowfall has affected up to fifty roads across Catalonia. Vehicles were also reported trapped on the BV-4031, the road connecting the towns of Toses and Castellar de n'Hug, highlighting the complexity of mobility in high mountain areas during the storm on January 24, 2026.