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Rail Works Vibrations Prompt Overnight Evacuation in Barcelona's Trinitat Vella

Officials say a soil compaction machine linked to ADIF's Montcada/Aigües reconfiguration is the likely cause and nearby work has been paused for investigation.

Overview

  • Early Thursday residents of Trinitat Vella felt strong vibrations and called emergency services, prompting Bombers de Barcelona and the Guardia Urbana to evacuate occupants for safety checks.
  • Between about 76 and 80 people were moved from two to three buildings on calle Pare Pérez del Pulgar and Via Barcino and were allowed to return after crews found no structural damage.
  • A preliminary inquiry points to a soil compaction machine operating on ADIF's works at the Aigües bifurcation as the probable source of the shaking, and ADIF has halted activity in the immediate area as a precaution.
  • The incident occurred roughly 500 metres from a large sinkhole two weeks earlier that swallowed a crane and disrupted Rodalies commuter services, raising local worries about repeated tunnelling impacts.
  • Authorities are carrying out on-site evaluations and ADIF says it is adopting mitigation measures already planned for the sector, including groundwater management works, while other Vallbona projects continue under supervision.