The initial intervention consists of cleaning and restoring the side drainage channel to its previous state, thus preventing further erosion on the beach.
The Government of the Balearic Islands has today begun repair work in the area of Cala En Porter, in the municipality of Alaior, after receiving authorisation from the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge. These actions are essential to restore normality to the area, which was severely affected by the extreme rains of 15 August.
During this episode, heavy rainfall on the island of Menorca caused flows over 80 m³/s, which caused numerous floods and significant damage to important infrastructures. In Cala En Porter, the torrent overflowed its original course, creating a new plain towards the centre of the beach and displacing a large part of the dune system towards the sea.
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This situation caused considerable erosion, seriously affecting the natural environment and the functionality of the beach.
In response to this emergency, on 23 August, the Regional Ministry of the Sea and Water Cycle requested in writing from the Coastal Demarcation the necessary authorisation to intervene in Cala En Porter, complying with the procedure established in the Coastal Law and within the framework of the transfer of competences. However, despite following the formal process, no response was received from the Coastal Demarcation.
Faced with this situation, the Councillor for the Sea and Water Cycle, Juan Manuel Lafuente, contacted the Secretary of State for the Environment, Hugo Morán, directly. Finally, yesterday the Conselleria del Mar y del Ciclo del Agua received authorisation from the Ministry for Ecological Transition, which has allowed action to be taken in the affected area and to proceed with its recovery.
The initial intervention consists of cleaning and restoring the side drainage channel to its previous state, which is crucial to ensure that the channel functions properly during future rainfall events, thus avoiding the continuation of erosion on the beach. This urgent action will be carried out outside the beach, some 250 metres from the mouth of the torrent, within the Public Hydraulic Domain (DPH). The main objective is to redirect the water that flows through the torrent towards its original bed next to the beach, which will facilitate the subsequent recovery of the dune system and the beach itself.
In addition to this technical intervention, the Government of the Balearic Islands reiterates its request to the Spanish Government to declare the municipalities of Es Mercadal and Alaior a catastrophic zone, due to the serious damage suffered during the storm. This declaration is essential for those affected to be able to access the economic aid necessary for the recovery of the devastated areas.