Balearic President, Francina Armengol, made the announcement during an official visit to meet the emergency teams that continue to work in the Tramuntana Mountains, which have been the main focus of concern in recent days due to the rescue of people trapped by the snow.
However, the declaration as a catastrophe zone sought by the government would not be limited to the mountains; it would also be for other affected areas, such as Felanitx, Arta and Santanyi.
Armengol said that it is currently “impossible” to make an economic assessment of the damage, but that it is “significant”, both for private individuals and in terms of public infrastructure.
Armengol also announced that the government will assess the forestry situation in the mountains, where there are many fallen trees, in order to draw up a specific reforestation plan similar to what was done in Banyalbufar, which was hit by a tornado in 2020.
At the moment, around fifteen environment agents are covering 64 kilometres and removing 1,705 trees. The president has indicated that “we must avoid risks for the summer”.
And Armengol called on the public not to go to the mountains, as “it is important to leave the spaces free” for the emergency teams to work. “We need them to concentrate on what they need to be doing, we shouldn’t risk anything,” she said. The president stressed that the authorities warned “from the beginning” that “this situation was coming”, but “there are people who do not pay attention” and this leads to “rescues of people for not following basic instructions”.
Armengol explained that they have first focused on “the most immediate problems, above all the rescue of isolated people”. Today there are still some people “in scattered places”; reconnaissance tasks are being carried out to check that no one is in danger in the most isolated areas and helicopters have been used to supply basic necessities to people who did not need to be rescued.
Efforts are also continuing to remove snow and fallen trees, re-establishing access to the roads - there are nine sections cut off - and restoring the electricity supply, which Endesa hopes to re-establish by the end of today, according to the president.
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If the majority of you ever moved your limited vision outside of calvia you may actually know the extent of the damage left by this storm. On the east coast most villages are STILL being powered by generators after extreme damage to power cables. There has been a lot of damage to roads and buildings due to tree damage. For once would you all realise calvia isn’t the only place in mallorca.
Apparently, they aren't asking for much. There was a lot of damage. According to this article, it appears they're asking for some limited financial help for the worst affected areas... Nobody's asking for billions here or trying to get rich. And for you tribalists; This has nothing to do with left or right... surely the PP would make same request. One tribe isn't better than the other. And that doesn't make you any better either. Grow up.
James WalkerIt's quite a common name where I am from. A bit too 'foreign' for you? So you are aware that the Nazis called themselves national socialists? And you think the PSOE are Nazis. Totally ridiculous.
Brett DennisTotally agree Brett. A bit of snow, wind, rain and some power cuts hardly compare with the recent earthquake in Turkey and Syria or the other natural disasters worldwide recently. California on fire, western Australia inundated, a third of Pakistan underwater last year, Tahiti overwhelmed by massive volcanic explosion and tsunami. Etc. They should be embarrassed to use such language, but won’t be because, as ever, it’s about the money.
The very foundations of PSOE was built on Marxist far left socialism.
@Zoltan. Are you from Dr Who with a name like that? Yes I'm fully aware of the terms I am using and they are a National Socialist government.
James Walker'national socialist government' Do you understand the terms you are using? Actually, I'll answer it for you - You don't!
Hardly a disaster zone. Think, Turkey. Just a ploy to get more money.
Armengol has come out from under her rock, hoping for a free hand out so her national socialist government can spend it badly then and make us all poorer. It's a shame she didn't get lost in the mountain snow.