Mallorca • Issue No. 2050 • 17 - 23 Oct 2024
Balearic boom
THE Balearic Islands, including Mallorca, have seen a notable rise in house prices, with an increase of 13.1 per cent over the past year. This surge has positioned the region as Spain’s most expensive autonomous community, with an average price of €4,561 per square metre. Within the islands, Palma has recorded one of the most significant increases among larger cities, with house prices rising by 10.2 per cent in the last year. The average price per square metre in Palma now stands at €4,308, making it the fourth most expensive city in the country after San Sebastian, Madrid, and Barcelona. Several factors are fuelling the rising costs in Palma and the broader Balearic region. A lack of available land for new developments and restrictive planning laws have severely limited housing construction, exacerbating the imbalance between supply and demand. Additionally, labour shortages and the collapse of some cons-
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House prices have risen.
truction companies have further slowed the building of new homes. Beyond Palma, other areas of the Balearic Islands are also experiencing significant price hikes. Coastal towns and rural areas of Mallorca, as well as the islands of Menorca and Ibiza, have seen sharp increases in demand, driving prices to record highs. While the Balearic Islands have seen a significant rise, they are not
alone. Across Spain, all autonomous communities have experienced price growth over the past year, with the Canary Islands leading the way at 16.4 per cent. In major cities like Madrid, Malaga, and Valencia, house prices have also reached historical highs. Yet, the Balearic Islands remain at the forefront of this property boom.
THE MALLORCA MOUNTAIN RESCUE GROUP (GRM) sprang to the rescue once again on Sunday, October 13 when a climber found herself in severe difficulties on the sheer wall of Sa Gubia, Bunyola. The Mallorca Fire Service received an alert at around 13.30 warning that two climbers required assistance, and officers from the GRM arrived at the scene to find one of the climbers dangling on a rope attached to the rocks. Despite being correctly equipped with the climbing rope, a har-
Photo Credit: Bombers de Mallorca
Climber rescued from rock face
Climber found herself in severe difficulty.
ness and safety helmet, the climber found herself suspended 100 metres from the top of the precipice, unable to either ascend or descend the drop. The specially trained GRM officers were able to assist the two climbers in the descent down to solid ground using safety lines of their own.
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Immunisation campaign A NEW campaign is underway in Mallorca to see as many residents as possible vaccinated against influenza and Covid-19. The initiative aims to surpass previous similar initiatives and provide better protection for those considered at higher risk of contracting the illnesses. The local Ministry of Health issued a press release on Monday, October 14, explaining the new measures that are being introduced as part of the campaign, including an experimental vaccination programme which will visit 24 schools across the Balearics (public, state-subsidised and private included), comprising of 11 in Mallorca, eight across Ibiza and Formentera and five in Menorca. The Ministry of Health states that those deemed as higher risk that are particularly targeted by the campaign include people over 60 years old, those residing in care homes, people with health conditions such as diabetes, chronic cardiovascular disease and respiratory disorders, as well as cancer patients, those having received a transplant, and the morbidly obese. Anyone wishing for details of other ailments included in the list, and to ascertain whether immunisation is a recommended priority personally, can ask at their local medical centre, whilst appointments can be obtained on www.gripcaib.es or by calling InfoSalut on 971 220 000.
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