On September 30, 2025, the Balearic Islands and the Iberian Peninsula experienced an episode of intense rainfall that, in Ibiza, exceeded the historical records set back in 1977. Our partner, Celso Garcia, from the Universitat de les Illes Balearsm was invited by the Spanish TV (RTVE) to analyse the situation. During the interview he stressed the importance of Early Warning Systems (EWS) and citizen awareness in prevention,
One of the most noteworthy actions during the heavy rainfall came from AEMET, the Spanish Meteorological Agency. It tracked the storm minute by minute and issued a civil protection alert to all mobile phones in the affected areas in due time. The agency also coordinated closely with emergency services. Although the institutional response was effective, Cels pointed out that the images reveal a lack of a prevention culture and limited trust in official warnings, one of the main pillars the project seeks to address.
This event reminds us of the urgent need to combine technology, public policy and citizen engagement to reduce risks and protect lives in the face of extreme weather events and particularly flash floods. The full interview is available here.
