MADRID (AP) - Days of torrential rain and melting snow have caused flooding in the Pyrenees region of north-eastern Spain, forcing the evacuation of around 500 people and knocking out power.

Officials in the Catalonia region said on Tuesday that three mountain rivers have burst their banks and flooded streets, homes and farmland in the area.

The flooding left some 4,000 people without power and forced the closure of four roads.

Weather forecasters expected the rain to ease off later in the day, but emergency services in more than a dozen municipalities were on alert.

The area is best known for its winter skiing.