The General Directorate of Emergencies and Interior (DGEI) of the Government of the Balearic Islands has this morning decreed a change in the Severity Index from 2 (IG-2) to 1 (IG-1) of the METEOBAL plan for rains and storms in the islands of Mallorca and Menorca, and to IG-0 in Ibiza and Formentera. Similarly, it has been decided to adjust the operational status of the INUNBAL plan due to the risk of flooding in Ibiza and Formentera, changing it to SO-0, while maintaining SO-2 in Menorca and SO-1 in Mallorca. This measure, agreed upon during a technical meeting chaired by General Director Sebastià Sureda, involves the lifting of the ban on outdoor activities in Mallorca and the Pitiusas.

However, it is advised to exercise extreme caution due to the persistent risks associated with rain and storms, even though they are expected to be of shorter duration and frequency. This decision was communicated to the Minister of the Presidency and Public Administration, Antònia Maria Estarellas, during a visit to the DGEI headquarters, where she inquired about the current situation of the DANA and thanked the Emergency and SEIB 112 staff for their efforts in recent days.

Following the usual protocol, this de-escalation situation has been notified through the General Directorate of Emergencies and Interior to all the local police chiefs of the islands and Civil Protection. It has also been communicated to the mayors of the municipalities.

The update of the METEOBAL severity index and the INUNBAL operational statuses comes after observing that the DANA has decreased in intensity and shifted towards the northeast. However, the DGEI reports that before proceeding with further de-escalation, infrastructure needs to be inspected and continuous monitoring of weather conditions and risk areas must be maintained, as significant precipitation is still occurring, especially in the northern part of Mallorca. In this regard, the DGEI will review the status of current alert levels in the coming hours in accordance with this ongoing attention.

Measures to follow

The measures to follow include continuous monitoring of weather conditions and risk areas, adjusting the intensity of monitoring to the new situation; maintaining the availability of material and human resources to respond to emergencies, adjusting the level of preparedness with each new alert level, especially in Menorca where all emergency services and municipalities are requested to be fully operational and vigilant for possible rapid flooding incidents; keeping drains and sewer systems clear due to persistent heavy rains, intensifying preventive measures in flood-prone areas of Menorca by avoiding vehicle access and parking, and paying special attention to vulnerable individuals with mobility issues.