Esporles Town Council has restricted access to the Es Verger area due to the risk of further landslides.
The council informed the media on Saturday, explaining that all resources and personnel have been mobilised to deal with this situation, after a new gravitational rockfall occurred during the night of 22 January in the Es Verger area, a place that has been particularly affected by similar incidents in recent years.
Upon receiving notification on the morning of Friday 23, the council immediately accessed the area together with the Local Police and activated the various operational personnel and safety protocols. The operation involved the Mallorca Fire Brigade, the Municipal Brigade, the Guardia Civil, the Roads Department of the Council of Mallorca, the local Environmental Officer and the 112 Emergency Service.
The mayor of Esporles, Josep Ferrà, also travelled to the site to monitor the situation, coordinate resources and visit the affected residents. He was later joined by the Director General of Emergencies of the Balearic Government, Pablo Gárriz.
On the morning of Friday 23 January, the Mallorca Fire Brigade inspected the area to assess the risks and determine the initial actions to be taken. The operation was supported by the Milana helicopter, which enabled an aerial survey to be carried out by means of video recording and visual inspection.
Initially, actions were taken to allow vehicles to leave some of the affected homes and to remove fallen trees. The Council of Mallorca also mobilised resources to remove rocks. However, after the initial technical data was collected, it was agreed to halt the mechanical tasks due to the high risk of further landslides caused by the instability of the terrain.
During the afternoon, technicians from the Balearic Islands Natural Risks and Emergencies Observatory Centre (RiscBal - UIB) carried out an inspection using a drone to obtain detailed information and prepare a preliminary report. Initial assessments suggest that the landslide was related to the accumulation of rainfall since mid-December 2025 and the high soil moisture content, which had increased significantly over the last week.
The technical services agreed that, given the existing risk and the adverse weather forecast, it is not advisable to intervene with heavy machinery or the continued presence of personnel in the area. Thus, following the principle of proportionality and prevention, it was agreed to recommend the temporary evacuation of the affected homes until the final technical report is available, which is expected early or mid-next week.
Mayor Josep Ferrà stressed that ‘the absolute priority is people’s safety.’ For this reason, ‘in the face of a real and proven risk, the council has acted prudently and quickly, activating all available resources and offering alternative accommodation to the families affected if they need it.’ With this information, Esporles Council has agreed to: maintain and reinforce the cordoning off of the area, both for vehicles and pedestrians; increase specific signage warning of the risk of landslides; immediately inform residents of the recommendation for preventive evacuation and, finally, offer temporary housing to those affected who do not have alternative accommodation or a support network, a notification that has been made to those concerned by the local police.
Currently, no personal injuries or structural damage to homes have been reported, according to the council, but there has been damage to two private access roads, which remain cordoned off, they said. Access to the area is therefore completely restricted for vehicles, pedestrians, hikers and climbers, as it is a popular destination.