Drones Confirm Protective Barriers Contained Santa Coloma Rockfall

Firefighters and government teams have inspected the Santa Coloma rockfall site using drones, confirming that protective barriers effectively contained most of the debris from Tuesday's incident.

The government conducted a detailed assessment on Wednesday morning in the area behind the Prat Condal parking lot, deploying drones to examine the slope from multiple angles. Government spokesperson Guillem Casal stated during a post-Cabinet press conference that the zone presents "a complicated setting around natural hazards," with rockfalls being common due to varying geological conditions. He noted the area is under permanent surveillance and equipped with two lines of dynamic barriers designed to absorb impacts.

The Environment Minister reported that the first barrier stopped about 90% of the roughly 100 cubic metres of rock that dislodged, while the remainder halted before reaching the second line, demonstrating the system's proper operation. Teams will continue on-site analysis to evaluate slope stability and consider any additional preventive measures. Casal emphasised ongoing monitoring in the coming days.

The initial event occurred just after 6pm on Tuesday, when a two-cubic-metre boulder tumbled down the channel beside Carrer dels Barrers, producing a loud bang, tremor, and thick dust cloud that alarmed residents. Witness videos captured the slide in this frequently affected spot near homes and the parking area. The rock landed about four metres behind the nearest protective net, dragging smaller stones but causing no injuries or damage.

Firefighters, Andorra la Vella traffic police, and a GSMO police unit quickly secured the site, stabilised the boulder, and briefly closed the street. By before 7pm, they had deemed the area safe and restored normal traffic. The shift commander told Altaveu the incident appeared dramatic but posed no threat.

The Solà district in Andorra la Vella remains susceptible to such slides, including a March 2024 event in the Canal de Bonavista at Ciutat de Valls that avoided buildings.