Spain's Government will hold an emergency meeting to deal with the impact of a storm that has caused heavy rains, powerful winds and huge waves, killing at least 13 people.

Key points:

• The storm unleashed winds of up to 144 kph and waves up to 13.5 metres high
• Four people are still missing following the freak weather
• Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said climate change was having an impact and governments needed to take it it into account

 

Residents were left grappling with the wreckage of Storm Gloria including collapsed bridges, damaged railway lines and entire beaches wiped away by waves.

Catalan authorities confirmed the two latest deaths on Thursday evening (local time).

A man was swept out to sea while fishing in the coastal town of L'Ametlla de Mar and another was found dead in his car inland in Cabaces, where there has been flooding.

Four people are still missing.

"I think what's important right now is that we're all united, that we work shoulder-to-shoulder and cooperate, as we are doing," Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told reporters after flying over areas of eastern Spain that have been hit.

The national weather authority said the storm had begun to recede but more than 100 roads remained closed and tens of thousands of students were kept out of school.

Noting that the storm had hit just as the area readied itself for the tourist season, Mr Sanchez said his Government had called the emergency meeting to help re-establish normality, guarantee security and address short- and medium-term needs.

The storm tightened its grip on parts of the peninsula on Sunday, unleashing winds of up to 144 kph and waves up to 13.5 metres high that slammed into seafront shops, wiping out beaches and boardwalks.