Almost total eviction of the caravan settlement in Es Gorg

The caravan settlement at the Es Gorg car park in Ibiza was practically dismantled on Monday, after several days of staggered departures by the occupants. Between last weekend and Sunday night, the vast majority of caravans and vans left the site, where until a few days ago more than a hundred people lived, many of them temporary workers and residents without access to housing.

At 7 a.m., the deadline set by the City Council for the voluntary eviction, only a dozen vehicles and about five tents remained in the car park. The eviction operation was attended by members of the Ibiza Local Police, the National Police and members of the municipal Social Services, who came to offer help to the most vulnerable people and to control possible incidents.

The City Council gave the residents of the settlement next to the Can Misses facilities a week's notice to leave, in order to begin work on the Low Exigency Centre — a social resource for the homeless and extremely vulnerable. This decision has caused controversy, as the inhabitants of the settlement — who are mostly people with temporary jobs or low incomes — have complained that they have no alternative housing and have requested the eviction be suspended as a precaution before the courts.

During the previous days, the City Council intensified police actions in the area, where in recent months infractions had been detected related to illegal camping, vehicles without insurance or MOT and accumulation of waste that, according to municipal reports, posed an environmental and safety risk.

Despite protests from those affected and some social groups, the council has maintained the planned timetable, arguing the urgent need to set up the new social centre. The municipal services have offered occasional referrals to temporary shelter resources, although many of the residents rejected these options due to lack of places, incompatibility with their employment situation or fear of being left on the street once the resource has been exhausted.

The City Council has not yet provided information on the exact date of the start of the works, although municipal sources indicate that the area will be fenced off and cleaned in the next few days.