Ibiza's five town halls have strengthened flood-prevention measures ahead of the autumn rainfall season, following two major episodes of torrential rain in 2025 that caused more than €20 million in damage to public infrastructure across the island.

The preparations range from intensive cleaning of drains and watercourses to new municipal emergency plans and targeted improvements to stormwater networks.

Lessons From the 2025 Storms

Ibiza experienced two major episodes of extreme rainfall in autumn 2025, on September 30 and October 12.

The first was associated with the remnants of ex-hurricane Gabrielle, while the second was linked to DANA Alice. Rainfall totals approached 300 litres per square metre in some parts of the island, while significant flooding affected roads, buildings and other infrastructure.

The documented damage to public infrastructure across Ibiza was later assessed at approximately €20.18 million.

The Balearic Government subsequently approved €5 million to help repair damage caused by the two weather events in homes, businesses, agricultural holdings and other affected property across Ibiza's five municipalities.

Ibiza Town Maintains Intensive Drain Cleaning

In Ibiza Town, the response has moved from emergency works immediately after the 2025 storms to a more permanent prevention programme.

Following the 2025 flooding, the municipality carried out ten emergency preventive interventions, including work on the Sa Llavanera and Cas Capità torrents, the port area and several locations where water had accumulated.

The city has since maintained a permanent programme for cleaning drainage grates, with additional intensive work carried out at key points during the year.

In August 2026, the municipality launched another intensive programme beginning along Avenida de Santa Eulària and extending towards Es Pratet and La Marina, identified as areas particularly vulnerable to water accumulation.

The municipal water service also cleans around 50 kilometres of the city's sewer network each year.

Santa Eulària Cleans 14,000 Square Metres of Torrents

Santa Eulària des Riu has combined several measures to reduce flood risk.

The municipality carried out its annual cleaning programme for drainage grates between August 3 and September 11, completing 30 days of work and 98 interventions across its network, which extends for approximately 145 kilometres.

The town hall also began a separate programme in early September to clean around 14,000 square metres of urban torrents.

The work started at the Canal del Porrador and is being extended to sections of sa Sèquia de sa Llavanera, the Torrent de s'Aguader, the Torrent de sa Fumassa and the Santa Eulària river, together with areas around bridges in Santa Gertrudis and Can Guasch.

The municipal investment is €18,125.80 including VAT.

Support for Rural Stone Walls

Santa Eulària also introduced a €100,000 extraordinary fund in December 2025 to help repair dry-stone walls damaged by torrential rainfall and the DANA.

The scheme provided grants of up to €3,000 per applicant for eligible repair work on affected rural properties.

The programme was aimed at restoring traditional rural structures as well as repairing storm damage.

Sant Josep Prioritises Flood-Prone Areas

Sant Josep de sa Talaia began its latest round of drainage and vegetation-clearing work in August 2026.

The municipality prioritised areas that had been particularly affected by flooding the previous year, including Sant Jordi, Can Raspalls and Platja d’en Bossa.

The programme includes cleaning drainage grates, the side drains of elevated roads and smaller torrents, as well as clearing other water-collection areas.

The municipality said the objective is to keep drainage infrastructure in the best possible condition ahead of episodes of torrential rainfall.

The Consell d'Eivissa is also collaborating by helping clean roadside areas associated with the island's roads.

Sant Antoni Has New Emergency Plans

Sant Antoni de Portmany took a different approach by strengthening its formal emergency-planning framework.

The town hall approved its Plan de Emergencias Municipal, or PEMU, and its Plan de Actuación Municipal ante Inundaciones, known as PAMIN, definitively in October 2025.

The plans establish procedures for responding to emergency situations and flooding and had been in preparation since 2024.

The municipality has also continued routine cleaning of torrents and stormwater infrastructure and periodic checks of pumping and sewerage systems.

The flood plan identifies 31 critical points within the municipality.

Sant Joan Focuses on Targeted Drainage Improvements

Sant Joan de Labritja has concentrated its prevention measures on specific parts of its stormwater network.

The municipality has been working on drainage infrastructure around s'Arenal Gros and s'Arenal Petit and on improvements in Sant Miquel.

The stated objective is to improve the evacuation of rainwater and reduce vulnerability during particularly intense rainfall episodes.

These targeted interventions form part of the wider preventative work being carried out across the island rather than a single island-wide drainage project.

Recent Weather Shows the Risk Remains

The preparations come as Ibiza has already experienced another episode of significant rain this September.

On September 17, 2026, heavy rain and storms affected Ibiza and Formentera after warnings had been issued, with Sant Antoni recording 11.2 litres per square metre by 15:30, Ibiza Town 7.3 litres and Formentera 7.4 litres at the same time.

The episode caused disruptions including suspended activities and problems on roads, although it was far less damaging than the extreme events experienced in autumn 2025.

Prevention Has Different Forms

The preparations across Ibiza show that there is no single approach to flood prevention.

Ibiza Town is maintaining and intensifying drain and sewer cleaning, Santa Eulària is combining drainage work with large-scale torrent maintenance, Sant Josep is prioritising areas previously hit by flooding, Sant Antoni has strengthened emergency planning and Sant Joan is carrying out targeted network improvements.

Some of the measures are routine maintenance, while others were introduced or expanded following the damage caused in 2025.

The Role of Watercourses

Torrents and drainage channels are particularly important during intense rainfall.

When vegetation, rubbish, vehicles or other objects obstruct these routes, the movement of water can be restricted and flooding can become more difficult to manage.

That is why several municipalities have focused on clearing torrent beds, drainage grates and water-collection points before the wetter part of the year.

Santa Eulària's current 14,000-square-metre torrent programme is one of the largest publicly announced municipal interventions of this type on the island this year.

Emergency Planning and Maintenance Work Together

Physical infrastructure is only one part of flood preparedness.

Municipal emergency plans establish how authorities coordinate during an incident, while routine maintenance is intended to reduce the likelihood that drainage infrastructure becomes overwhelmed or obstructed.

Sant Antoni's PEMU and PAMIN provide a formal framework for emergency response, while the other municipalities are putting greater emphasis on maintenance and targeted infrastructure work.

Ibiza Cannot Predict the Next Storm

The current preventive work does not mean that future flooding can be ruled out.

Seasonal forecasts cannot determine exactly when an extreme rainfall event will occur or how much rain will fall at a particular location. Their role is to indicate broader seasonal tendencies, while short-range forecasts and official warnings provide the information needed for specific events.

That makes preparation particularly important in Ibiza, where intense rainfall can occur over a short period.

A More Preventive Approach

Compared with the emergency response that followed the 2025 floods, the measures now being implemented show a stronger emphasis on prevention and maintenance.

The municipalities are cleaning the infrastructure that carries rainwater, addressing previously identified vulnerable areas and, in Sant Antoni's case, strengthening formal emergency procedures.

The island's experience in 2025 has provided a clear reason to prepare before the next period of intense rainfall rather than waiting for another major storm.

Autumn Preparedness Across Ibiza

As autumn approaches, Ibiza's five municipalities are entering the wetter part of the year with a range of preventive measures already underway.

The work cannot eliminate the risk of flooding, but it is intended to improve drainage, reduce obstructions and strengthen the response when heavy rain arrives.

After the two major rainfall episodes of 2025, the focus this year is firmly on keeping drains, torrents and emergency systems ready before the next intense weather event.