Toddler dies after being hit by huge four-inch hailstone in horror storm

Weather experts say it's the biggest hailstones they've seen in two decades as dozens of people suffer broken bones and head injuries in Catalonia, Spain

The huge hailstones were four inches wide as they rained down on the Catalan town of La Bisbal de l'Emporda (

Image: Getty Images/EyeEm)

A toddler has died after being hit by a huge hailstone during a horror storm.

The 20-month-old girl was one of 30 people injured by hailstones that measured 10cm wide during freak weather in La Bisbal de l'Emporda, Catalonia, Spain.

The baby was rushed to Josep Trueta Hospital in Girona, 29 km away, but died a few hours later.

A woman who was injured in the storm remains in the same hospital trying to recover from her injuries.

28 other people suffered head injuries, broken bones and needed stitches after the ice boulders fell from the sky on Tuesday.

The largest hailstone ever measured measured 8 inches and weighed 878 grams in 2010 (

Picture:

UIG via Getty Images)

Local weather experts said the hailstones were the biggest they had seen in 20 years.

Cars were also damaged by the storm.

The nationality and identity of the girl killed have not yet been revealed by the Catalan police.

Tourists traveling to Spain were warned earlier this month that they could be caught in rare Mediterranean hurricanes.

Experts have said the risk of tropical-like cyclones called Medicanes has risen with this year's record heatwaves hitting the UK's favorite holiday destination and rising sea temperatures blamed on global warming .

Oceanographer and meteorological expert Yurima Celdran, said: "The higher Mediterranean temperatures provide a greater source of energy for drugs and amplify their destructiveness.

“Sea temperatures this fall are expected to be above normal and if the necessary atmospheric conditions are in place, it would not be unreasonable to think that the Mediterranean could harbor a drug this year.”