The President of Andalusia, Juanma Moreno, announced that the decision on the phased return of evacuated residents of Grazalema will be made on Sunday afternoon. The return of 1,600 people who left their homes due to extreme rainfall depends on reports from CSIC experts. Scientists are studying soil stability and the risk of landslides to identify areas of the municipality that are completely safe for the civilian population.

Phased return of residents

President Juanma Moreno announced the phased return of 1,600 residents of Grazalema, conditional on obtaining positive opinions from geologists.

Key role of CSIC experts

Specialists from the Spanish National Research Council are analyzing soil stability and searching for underground caverns that threaten the safety of building structures.

Stabilization of the weather situation

The last night in Andalusia passed quietly, allowing for a shift from the crisis response phase to planning recovery and returns.

The situation in the Andalusian town of Grazalema is stabilizing after a period of severe weather events. The president of the autonomous community, Juanma Moreno, announced that authorities are preparing for the phased return of residents. A key element of the process is the geological expertise being prepared by the CSIC. Specialists are analyzing the subsoil structure for the presence of underground voids that could lead to uncontrolled sinkholes or landslides after heavy downpours. Currently, about 1,600 residents are away from their homes, a significant portion of whom have found shelter in nearby Ronda. According to the latest reports, if Sunday's reports are favorable, the first groups of people will be able to return to their properties as early as Monday. However, this process will not be a one-time event. Emergency services and the Consejería de Emergencias (Department of Emergencies) plan a phased return, prioritizing areas classified as completely safe by geologists working in the field. The town of Grazalema is known as one of the rainiest places in Spain due to the specific terrain of the Sierra de Grazalema, which forces the rapid condensation of air masses from the Atlantic. „If we make the decision today, the return can begin tomorrow.” — Juanma Moreno President Moreno personally visited the El Fuerte sports center in Ronda, where evacuees are housed, to provide them with current information. Although the past night in Andalusia passed without new weather incidents, the alert status for infrastructure remains high. Geologists are precisely mapping the risk to avoid tragedies related to the instability of waterlogged urban terrain, which is a standard safety procedure in this region of Spain after such an extreme rainfall episode.1600 osób — are waiting to return to GrazalemaEvacuation and Return Planning Timeline: February 5, 2026 — Evacuation of Grazalema; February 14, 2026 — CSIC Investigations; February 15, 13:00 — President's Visit; February 15, 18:00 — Report Analysis; February 16, 2026 — Planned Return

Mentioned People

  • Juanma Moreno — President of the autonomous government of Andalusia, overseeing crisis operations.