The Balearic Islands would need an investment of about 1,435 million euros until 2035 to address structural water scarcity and the growing risk of flooding. This is one of the main conclusions of the report Strategy and investments for water efficiency and resilience in Spain, prepared by the consulting firm Typsa and the Association of Construction and Infrastructure Concessionaire Companies (Seopan), which places the Archipelago among the areas of the State “most vulnerable” to these phenomena.

The Balearic Islands are on orange alert due to the risk of storms and flooding ahead of an episode of instability that will persist over the next few days. Aemet and Civil Protection have warned of the possibility of locally heavy or very heavy downpours and flash floods in some parts of the Archipelago.

Students in the sixth year of Infant Education, sixth year of Primary Education, and fourth year of ESO in the Balearic Islands will receive specific training this academic year on how to act in emergency situations. The Government will roll out the Education X Emergencies program to all educational centers supported by public funds, with a forecast of reaching 36,244 students and providing a total of 3,624 hours of training during the 2026-2027 academic year. The Minister of Education and Universities, Antoni Vera, and the Second Vice President and Minister of Presidency, Coordination of Government Action and Local Cooperation, Antònia Maria Estarellas, presented the initiative this Monday at the IES Emili Darder in Palma. The program is a joint effort between the Directorate General for Emergencies and Interior and the Ministry of Education and Universities.

The Government will activate this Saturday the pre-alert phase of the Special Plan for Flood Risk (Inunbal), coinciding with the start of the period of greatest risk of isolated high-level depressions (dana) in the Islands.

Daniel García Veira (Carballo, 1997) is a biologist and marine ecologist. At the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies (Imedea), he researches the role of oceanic posidonia meadows in marine protection.

36.5% of Campos' population lives in flood-prone areas, the highest percentage in the Balearic Islands, according to data from the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge. Marratxí, with 33%, and Palma, with 18.9%, also far exceed the regional average of 9.5%. In Sóller, the risk is also significant: 15.1% of its inhabitants live in areas susceptible to flooding. In contrast, in Sant Llorenç des Cardassar—where the tragic flash flood of 2018 claimed 13 lives—only 3.6% of residents live in flood-prone areas, while in Ibiza, where the DANA storm of October affected large areas and even forced the expansion of flood zones, the percentage of affected areas was much higher. The figures show that the risk of flooding is concentrated mainly in Mallorca, especially in the Palma conurbation, in the Levante area, where urban sprawl and proximity to torrents increase its vulnerability.

Ambulances and other emergency personnel circulate through a roundabout during flooding in Ibiza this Saturday, October 11, 2025.

The latest natural disaster to hit the Balearic Islands was the historic flood that hit Ibiza this week, when In just a few hours, nearly 300 liters per square meter fell.The rain, both intense and efficient, caused widespread flooding, road closures, damage to homes and businesses, and forced the Ibizan Council to request that Madrid declare it a disaster zone. This episode adds to a blacklist of natural disasters that, over the past few decades, have left a strong mark on the entire archipelago.

The Parliament's Institutional and General Affairs Committee has approved an initiative presented by the PSIB (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party) to introduce emergency training in schools. The Non-Law Proposal (PNL), championed by Socialist MP Teresa Suárez, urges the government to develop an official educational guide in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Universities, the Ministry of the Presidency, and the security and emergency services, establishing the basic guidelines for this training. It also calls for the organization of annual training sessions for teachers and other professionals in the education sector, as well as the development of awareness campaigns aimed at families and the educational community, with accessible educational materials to promote a culture of prevention and safety.

According to the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet), Tuesday's rainfall in Ibiza was "historic and extraordinary," with a maximum of 252 l/m² accumulated throughout the day recorded at its stations in the island's capital and a record of 174 l/m² at the airport. Miquel Gili, head of the Aemet's Balearic Islands territorial center, explained that there is "much more data" recorded throughout the day by collaborators at different points in the Pitiusas, which is "even higher," with rain gauges "close to 300." The figures from the Aemet stations stand out for being very long historical series, especially that of the airport, with uninterrupted data spanning 73 years. Other significant data for the day are the 115 l/m² recorded in Formentera; 69 l/m² in San Juan de Labritja, and 59 l/m² in San Antonio. "These are extraordinary values, record-breaking in most resorts," the spokesperson emphasizes.

The heavy rains in Ibiza and Formentera, which have left up to 200 liters per square meter in just a few hours, have caused numerous incidents and a devastating landscape: road closures, flooding, and preventive evacuation, as well as the closure of a school. During the night, the rain flooded the underpasses of the airport road, which were closed to traffic, forcing detours via overpasses. Furthermore, until 7:20 a.m., part of the Jesús roundabout was also closed, according to the Ibiza Council. The heavy rainfall continued throughout the morning on the island, causing chaos and a landscape of water and mud that will take days to disappear.

The Government does not expect the rains that will fall this Wednesday in the Balearic Islands to cause flooding, but warned that the storms will be accompanied by electrical equipment, whose lightning could cause a fireAccording to forecasts from the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet), the next few hours will be unstable, with the first critical moment of the day expected between 12:00 and 18:00. A cold air front is expected to collide with the warm air masses, causing severe storms with rainfall of up to 50 liters per square meter. These could be accompanied by electrical disturbances and possible disasters, as well as a slight drop in temperature, according to Europa Press.