Catalonia, Spain – Video recorded by X user Ernest II*II shows police officers and local residents working together to shovel thick piles of hail from a street in Ribes de Freser.

The caption reads in translation: “Historic moment. This is rarely seen… police officers working instead of using batons at independence demonstrations.”

The short, shaky handheld footage shows several officers in dark uniforms with high-visibility yellow vests, alongside a civilian in a light shirt, shoveling large amounts of white hail off the road and sidewalks.

Parked cars line both sides of the street. Stone buildings and trees frame the scene. A police vehicle with flashing blue lights is visible further down the road under overcast skies.

The footage was recorded on April 21, 2026, after an unusually intense and sudden April hailstorm covered the streets in a thick layer of hail.

In some areas, the accumulation reached knee height, making roads nearly impassable. As the hail began to melt, localized flooding developed across the town.

Authorities urged residents to avoid travel and remain cautious due to dangerous conditions.

Emergency services and volunteers joined the cleanup effort as the ice was cleared from streets and sidewalks.

The images highlight both the scale of the hailstorm and the unusual scene of police officers and residents working side by side to restore access in the affected area.

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