91% of the work has been completed, with cleaning, reconstruction of walls and restoration of vegetation.
The work to clean up and restore the streams affected by the torrential rains of 15 August in Menorca is progressing at a good pace and has already reached 91.41% completion.
With a total planned investment of 3,352,347.29 euros, the work has made it possible to recover 10,100 linear metres of the riverbed and restore an area of 85,000 square metres. The interventions have included the removal of mud and debris, the restoration of vegetation and the reconstruction of dry stone walls and damaged canalisations. The work is scheduled for completion in early March.
To supervise the ongoing work being carried out, the Balearic Minister of the Sea and Water Cycle, Juan Manuel Lafuente, visited the affected areas today, accompanied by the President of the Consell Insular de Menorca, Adolfo Vilafranca; the Minister of the Environment, Simón Gornés; the Mayor of Es Mercadal, Joan Palliser; and the Director General of Water Resources, Joan Calafat.
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More than 10 kilometres of torrents affected by the DANA in Menorca restored
During the visit, they toured two key points: the Torrent d’Es Mercadal, in the Ses Rotes area, where work is continuing, and the Torrent d’Es Mercadal and l’Arpa, where the estates have already been completely restored.
‘The aim of this intervention is not only to repair the damage caused by the rains but also to ensure that the watercourses are better prepared for future episodes of heavy rainfall,’ said Minister Lafuente. ‘The speed with which this work has been carried out demonstrates the Government’s commitment to the safety of the population and the preservation of the natural environment,’ he added.
It should be remembered that the torrential rains of 15 August caused serious damage in several parts of the island, especially in the municipalities of Es Mercadal and Alaior, where the magnitude of the damage intervened as a priority.
In total, work has been carried out on 17 stretches of torrents, including the Torrent d’Es Mercadal, the Torrent de Montpalau, the Torrent de Sa Canova and the Torrent de S’Alairó, where the floods swept away trees, stones and earth, obstructing the channels and causing the collapse of walls and channels.
One of the most affected areas was the Torrent d’Es Mercadal, both in its section towards the town centre and its course towards the north, in the Ses Rotes area. Areas such as S’Alairó, Sant Joan, Binimel-la, Binial-làs and Sant Vicenç also suffered significant damage.
Investment and completion forecast
To date, 3,064,367.29 euros have been executed, representing 91.41% of the total budget. Work is currently underway on the Torrent de Carbonell, an area of special agricultural interest, as well as on some sections of the Torrent de s’Alairó and in the urban area of the Torrent d’Es Mercadal, where the retaining walls are being reinforced.
The works, which began on 4 September 2024, were scheduled to be completed in January 2025, but the rains of recent months have delayed the work, which has made it necessary to request an extension. The contract ends on 4 March, when all the work is scheduled to be completed.
With this intervention, the Ministry of the Sea and Water Cycle of the Government of the Balearic Islands reaffirms its commitment to the protection of Menorca’s river environments and the safety of its hydraulic infrastructures, which are essential to minimise the impact of future episodes of heavy rainfall.