Heavy rainfall hits Ibiza's salt pans, losing around 11,000 tons of salt

Heavy rainfall has flooded large parts of Ibiza's salt pans. The operator estimates losses of about 11,000 tons of salt – the harvest is thus greatly at risk.

Salt pans of Ibiza hit hard by storms

Yesterday, along the coast around Ses Salines, one could see it with their own eyes: puddles, muddy paths, and the lingering dampness after the rain. No wonder the salt flats, which have been part of the island’s economy for centuries, took a hard blow.

What happened

The operator, Salinera Española, estimates that due to the prolonged rainfall in recent weeks about 11,000 tons of salt were lost. For comparison: a normal annual harvest is around 80,000 tons. So far, the teams have only recovered about 21,000 tons – the rest remains underwater.

Technicians are on site pumping out the water. According to the representatives, the process is likely to take almost another month before the extent can be precisely quantified. That sounds like a lot of time – and it is, when you think about storage capacity, quality, and the next steps.

What consequences this can have

For the workers this means uncertainty: seasonal workers who are normally employed in autumn face possible losses. Traders and supply chains on the mainland are also looking more closely because less raw material is available. Economically this is not a dramatic scenario for Spain as a whole, but for the region and the people who depend on salt production it is noticeable.

Are there ecological aspects too? Yes. Salt flats are not just salt basins; they are habitats for birds and microscopic organisms. Highly fluctuating water levels and suddenly changed salt concentrations can disturb local bird populations – for example the migratory routes of wading birds that stop here.

What happens next

The coming weeks will show how much salt was actually lost and whether damaged basins have to be repaired. Residents report well-prepared pumps and technician teams who are often on site before seven in the morning. Until the balancing tables are finalized, patience is required – and a little fingers-crossed for the people on site.

If there is news, we will report again from the region with current figures and voices from those affected.