President Marga Prohens announces that the flood plan will be activated this Saturday in anticipation of more violent storms due to sea warming.
The Balearic Government will activate the pre-alert phase of the Inunbal plan this Saturday in response to the arrival of the DANAS season and storms that, according to experts, will be more virulent due to the extreme heat of the sea. President Marga Prohens appeared this Friday to detail the response protocols and self-protection measures for citizens.
Prohens warned that the Balearic Sea is recording temperatures above 30 degrees, a figure that "forecasts more violent phenomena" and positions flooding as the main natural risk for the archipelago. The pre-alert involves sharing information with municipalities, analysing weather forecasts, and reviewing communication mechanisms to ensure a "quick and coordinated" response in case of an emergency.
Scientific collaboration and cleaning of torrents
The Government has requested reports from the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB), the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet), and the Advisory Council on Climate Change. Researchers warn that warming not only affects the surface of the sea but extends to greater depths, a phenomenon linked to more intense heatwaves and an acceleration of climate change in the Mediterranean.
To reduce the risk of flooding, the Balearic Executive has acted on 486 kilometres of torrents across the islands and has established a funding line of 300,000 euros for adjacent landowners to clean their sections. The pace of intervention has accelerated: by the end of July, 67 kilometres had already been cleaned, compared to 50 at the same time last year.
Protocols in schools, businesses, and stadiums
The Government has prepared specific protocols for various sectors. In educational centres, a plan will be implemented starting from the 2026-2027 academic year that defines actions before, during, and after an emergency. Additionally, the Balearic Islands will be the first community to launch the 'Education X Emergencies' programme, coordinated between the educational system and Civil Protection.
For commerce, a practical guide has been developed with a poster on how to act during heavy rains. In the sports sector, Emergencies and the Balearic Football Federation have agreed on a protocol for stadiums in the event of civil protection alerts, which is expected to be expanded to other outdoor sports. Prohens emphasised the importance of "instilling a culture of self-protection" and reminded that the ES-Alert warning system is "perfectly" implemented.
The institutional campaign 'The best protection starts before the storm' will use illustrations and infographics to explain to citizens what measures to adopt. "We cannot prevent these phenomena from occurring, but we can do everything in our power to provide maximum protection," concluded the president.
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