Water Main Break Floods Carrer Oms in Palma – Shopping Street Submerged

Water main break keeps Palma on edge: Shopping street underwater

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Early this morning, around 05:30 AM, residents in the Old Town quarter heard a strange, deep rumble — shortly after water gushed from a burst pipe and flooded the Carrer Oms. Within minutes, storefronts and the pavement were covered by a thin, then deeper layer of water. The scene looked surreal: delivery crates floated by, street cafés were empty, and the streetlights cast their light on mirrored puddles.

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What is affected

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Several shops had to close immediately, residents report cold water at taps and some households without supply. Parts of the street pavement have burst open at least two locations; stones and gravel lie around. The police have cordoned off the area; the city cleaning department and the local water authority are on site. Pedestrians are asked to detour widely — especially the corner toward the Plaça, where onlookers could obstruct traffic.

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How the work is progressing

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City utility technicians worked visibly under floodlights, hauling pipes and tools along the street. Official details on the cause of the damage are still pending; early indications point to aging in the pipe. A technician I spoke with briefly estimated the repair would take "a few hours," but corrected himself: "if it's deeper, it will be more like days."

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For business owners, it's a bad start to the day: A baker on the corner spoke of spoiled goods, other shop owners fear revenue losses. Some residents have already fetched water in jugs from neighbors, others are waiting for mobile supply points the city plans to set up.

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What you should know now

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If you want to go to the old town today: Avoid Carrer Oms and plan detours. Traffic is locally diverted; bus lines may be adjusted at short notice. Follow announcements from the emergency services on site and check by phone whether stores are open before visiting.

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The cause is still under investigation. I will stay on top of it and inform you as soon as reliable timings for repairs and information on water quality are available. If you are directly affected and need help: contact the city's hotline—the number usually appears on Palma's social media channels.

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A small, honest tip at the end: Those who walked the alleys this morning not only saw splashing water fountains, but also the neighborhood that sprang into action immediately. Not everything is bad about such a morning.