Dep. Legal A PM 42-2025 - 140 - 2004 - ISSN - ISSN 3015-1309 2488-1686
Mallorca • No. 2078 • 1 - 7 May 2025
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Mallorca escapes blackout Credit: Balate.Dorin - Shutterstock
Islands stable amid chaos
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New street rules PALMA’S council has approved a new civic ordinance, to take effect in May. After months of debate since its proposal in November, the council revised contentious points, removing penalties for living in motorhomes to be in line with traffic laws and amending regulations on street artists, which had sparked significant protests. The new rules will ensure cleaner and safer streets in and around Palma without impeding on the rights of individuals that make up an essential part of the Island’s culture and society. The new rules do, however, target issues like late-night noise, vandalism of heritage sites, and misuse of public spaces, serving as a ‘starting point’ for civic improvement. They also close a legal gap for scooters, mandating civil liability insurance with £120,000 minimum coverage and approved safety helmets. All parties voted in favour the new local law. Credit: Policia Local Palma
Electricity working as usual in Mallorca.
MONDAY, April 28, a massive blackout hit the Iberian Peninsula, leaving millions without power, but the Balearic Islands dodged direct impact on their electricity supply. However, the islands did face significant disruptions in telecommunications and air travel. While the peninsula struggled with widespread power outages, the Balearics experienced intermittent cuts in mobile phone and data services starting early afternoon. The disruptions, linked to severe failures on the mainland, affected all major operators, with Mallorca losing mobile reception around 6pm, restricting users to just emergency calls. Partial connectivity was restored within 20 minutes. Further interruptions occurred after 8pm and 9pm, causing problems for digital services critical for daily life, commerce, and emergency healthcare. On a brighter note, many were commenting on how teenagers were taking and playing football together, instead
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of stuck looking at their phones all day. There were major disruptions to air travel, especially flying to mainland Spain, but according to sources, there was only one cancellation to Brussels early Tuesday. Following that, all flights were back to normal. Endesa confirmed that the islands’ power supply remained stable, thanks to the archipelago’s autonomous energy system, supported by thermal power plants on each island. However, the telecom issues called for rapid response. President Marga Prohens led a meeting of the Territorial Protection Civil Plan’s technical committee to monitor the situation, with the plan activated at level 1 from midday. The
Directorate General of Emergencies and Interior scrambled to strengthen critical communication points to ensure coordination among police, ambulances, local councils, and civil protection volunteers just in case. The blackout’s cause re-
mains under investigation. Red Eléctrica, the Spanish national grid, suggested a disconnection in the European interconnection via France, while Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez reported a sudden loss of some 60 per cent of Spain’s demand at 12.33pm.
Police checking scooter safety, Palma.
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