At least 13 people have died as a powerful storm wreaks havoc in parts of Spain, prompting the government to call for an emergency meeting.

Storm Gloria tore through the Balearic Islands, including popular tourist destination Majorca, last weekend before striking Catalonia, Valencia and the southern regions of Murcia and Andalusia.

Catalan authorities confirmed the two latest deaths on Thursday, including a man who was swept out to sea while fishing near Ametlla de Mar and another found dead in his car in Cabaces, where there was flooding.

According to local reports, five people have gone missing since the storm hit the country. Local residents said they had "never seen anything like this" after reflecting on the damage wrought by Storm Gloria.

Spain's prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, told reporters during a visit to worst-affected areas: “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.”

Streets turned to rivers as flash-flooding, hail and tornado hit Spain Show all 10 1 /10 Streets turned to rivers as flash-flooding, hail and tornado hit Spain Streets turned to rivers as flash-flooding, hail and tornado hit Spain Lightning strikes during a thunderstorm after a hot day in San Sebastian, Spain, 26 August 2019. EPA/Javier Etxezarreta Streets turned to rivers as flash-flooding, hail and tornado hit Spain People remove hail from street in Arganda del Rey, Madrid, Spain, 26 August 2019. EPA/Rodrigo Jimenez Streets turned to rivers as flash-flooding, hail and tornado hit Spain A car is damaged after the floods in Navas del Marques, Avila, Spain, 26 August 2019. EPA/Raul Sanchidrián Streets turned to rivers as flash-flooding, hail and tornado hit Spain People remove water caused by heavy rains in Arganda del Rey, Madrid, Spain, 26 August 2019. EPA/Rodrigo Jimenez Streets turned to rivers as flash-flooding, hail and tornado hit Spain People remove hail in Arganda del Rey, Madrid, Spain, 26 August 2019. EPA/Rodrigo Jimenez Streets turned to rivers as flash-flooding, hail and tornado hit Spain Still image taken from video of heavy rain in Arganda del Rey, Madrid, Spain, 26 August 2019. Isaac Garcia via Reuters Streets turned to rivers as flash-flooding, hail and tornado hit Spain Neighbours help clear a private car park after floods affected Borox, Toledo, Spain, 26 August 2019. EPA/Ismael Herrero Streets turned to rivers as flash-flooding, hail and tornado hit Spain A woman looks at the damage in a shop in Arganda del Rye, Madrid, Spain, 27 August 2019. EPA/David Fernandez Streets turned to rivers as flash-flooding, hail and tornado hit Spain Still image taken from video shows cars swept away by floodwater after heavy rainfall hit Arganda del Rey neighbourhood in Madrid, Spain, 26 August 2019. Larisa Andrei/via Reuters Streets turned to rivers as flash-flooding, hail and tornado hit Spain Buildings are reflected on a big puddle a day after heavy rains caused floods in parts of Madrid, Spain, 27 August 2019. EPA/Mariscal

He added the government will hold an emergency meeting on Friday to address short- and medium-term needs and security.

The storm caused the Ebro River Delta, between Barcelona and Valencia, to swell up to three kilometres inland, flooding an estimated 3,000 hectares of paddy fields in the area, reported local newspaper El Pais.

In the coastal town of Tossa de Mar, thick carpets of sea foam submerged the streets and coated the walls of buildings up to several metres on Wednesday.

The national weather authority said the storm had begun to recede, but more than 100 roads are still shut and tens of thousands of students were told to stay home from school.

Mr Sanchez also added Storm Gloria’s chaos was made worse by climate change.

“Meteorological phenomena we are witnessing aren’t entirely due to climate change, but what is also true is that climate change is accentuating them.

Public administrations have to shift fears and focus our economic resources and public policies … on a new element, and that is climate change,” he said.