From weather chaos to municipal challenges, Christmas week in Mallorca has been pretty eventful. High winds swept across the island, while it emerged that Palma’s fiery St. Sebastian street pageant faces a shortage of fireworks. As the city prepares to roll out its Low Emissions Zone, the authorities say they won’t issue fines to anyone during the first year of operations. And Christmas came early for Mallorca’s firefighters: they’re getting a brand-new rescue helicopter. Here’s your quick catch-up on the stories everyone’s talking about.
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Storm Hits Mallorca: Winds of 148 km/h Cause 221 Incidents
Mallorca was battered by powerful winds on December 22, with gusts reaching up to 148 km/h. The storm triggered 221 incidents, mostly in Palma (117 cases) and Marratxí (28 cases), including 110 fallen trees and 75 landslides. Road closures and a suspension of ferry services added to the disruption.
Emergency teams, including 90 members of the Highway Service, worked overnight to reopen roads. The storm subsided by morning.
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Sant Sebastià Correfoc at Risk Due to Firework Shortages
The beloved Sant Sebastià correfoc – a fiery street pageant, complete with demons and dragons – on January 20 may be in jeopardy. Palma City Council’s urgent tender for pyrotechnics (budgeted at €50,708) has fallen flat, with no takers. Industry professionals cite insufficient funding and overly demanding technical requirements.
Last year’s event involved 516 participants and 270 kilos of fireworks. With time running out, the fate of one of Palma’s most iconic celebrations hangs in the balance.
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Palma Delays Low Emissions Zone Fines Until 2026
Drivers can breathe a temporary sigh of relief. Palma City Council has announced a moratorium on fines for non-compliance with Low Emissions Zone (LEZ) regulations until the end of 2025.
During this period, an information campaign will be rolled out, and violators will receive notifications instead of penalties. Meanwhile, authorities will continue testing the camera system and software designed to monitor the zone.
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Mallorca Firefighters Get Year-Round Rescue Helicopter
Big news for Mallorca’s rescue operations: a state-of-the-art helicopter will soon be available year-round for mountain rescues.
Announced by Consell president Llorenç Galmés, the helicopter promises to reach accident sites in as little as five minutes, or 15 minutes for harder-to-access areas. The service, which costs €1 million annually, is expected to be operational by summer 2025—a timely upgrade as mountain rescues on the island have surged by 200% in recent years.
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Son Carrió Residents Demand Better Medical Care
Frustrated by inadequate healthcare, residents of Son Carrió have rallied for better services. The town, home to over 1,100 people, currently has a doctor just three times a week and a nurse only once a week.
Locals are calling for a daily doctor and nurse, along with a weekly pediatrician, to match the care available in other towns. “We want to be on equal terms with the rest of the municipalities,” said the Neighborhood Association.
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That’s your weekly roundup — plenty to spark conversation at the weekend table. From storms to Sant Sebastià, what’s your take on Mallorca’s latest news?
Text by Sebastian Cerutti
