Collboni declares emergency in Barcelona due to October torrential rains

Mayor Jaume Collboni has declared a state of emergency to contract works and services without the usual administrative procedures following the torrential rains in October, which left nearly 200 litres per square metre and around fifty landslides.

The Barcelona City Council will be able to contract works, supplies, and services without following the ordinary administrative procedures. Mayor Jaume Collboni has signed an emergency decree published in the Gaseta Municipal this Wednesday, allowing immediate action to repair the damage caused by the torrential rains in October.

According to the council, the storm left nearly 200 litres per square metre over the past weekend and caused around fifty landslides, concentrated mainly in the city's mountain neighbourhoods. Mobility was also affected.

The decree empowers municipal management to order the immediate execution of necessary actions when circumstances of urgent need arise. These contracts will be processed through the emergency procedure stipulated in article 120 of the Law 9/2017 on public sector contracts.

To use this route, technical services must prepare a report that certifies the contract's objective, the direct relationship with the effects of the rains, the need for urgent action, and the inadequacy of ordinary procedures. However, the decree allows for this report to be drafted afterwards when the immediacy of the intervention requires it.

The provisions take effect from this Wednesday and will remain in force as long as the extraordinary circumstances that justify them persist. The measure aims to expedite the repair of damages in the mountain neighbourhoods, such as Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, Gràcia, or Horta-Guinardó, where most of the landslides occurred.

“Adoption of emergency measures to carry out exclusively the actions necessary to prevent, contain or repair the damage directly caused by the torrential downpours.”

The decree also delegates to the management the authority to order the immediate execution of the necessary actions. Residents of the affected areas will be able to check the status of repairs through the usual channels of the Barcelona City Council.