The Balearic Government is preparing changes to the boundaries of flood zones in order to increase the possibility of construction in these zones.
On Thursday, President Prohens, who had gone to Ibiza earlier this week to witness for herself the flooding brought about by Storm Gabrielle, was in her home municipality of Campos, where there are high flood risks. She said current boundaries were defined with a "broad brush".
The intention is, therefore, to redefine the zones more precisely. "A flood zone with high flood speed is one thing, while what happens in many places, such as Campos, where zones fill up with little risk, is quite another."
The government's water resources directorate is conducting studies that will establish four risk categories - slight, moderate, severe, and very severe. Based on these categories, construction may or may not be permitted. The directorate emphasises that the necessary protective measures will be established to guarantee the safety of people and property. "This work is always carried out in accordance with technical criteria and based on current regulations."
Prohens added: "We must be very rigorous when classifying flood zones and not use a broad brush, as is done too often. An area that could suffer a flood of a few metres is not the same as one that suffers a flood of a few centimetres." She stated that her government has been "more forward-looking" than the previous government.
Following the Sant Llorenç tragedy in 2018, the building of housing on this type of land was prohibited. But there were exceptions if there were no viable alternative locations and measures could be taken to minimise risks. The current government had intended expansion of building capacity in flood zones, but the Valencia disaster of last October resulted in a rethink.