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The Government considers compensating residents and businesses after the L9 sinkhole in Barcelona
The sinkhole caused by the L9 works continues to disrupt the daily lives of residents and shopkeepers in Barcelona. Dozens of people are still waiting for technical reports to find out when they can return home, while the Government is not ruling out compensation for those affected.
The Minister for Territory, Housing and Ecological Transition, Sílvia Paneque, has opened the door to compensating those who have had to leave their homes or close their businesses because of the incident. In the meantime, the authorities are still handling the rehousing, and the official priority is to ensure a safe return.
The return was initially planned for Saturday, but the technicians requested more time to inspect the ground and the affected buildings. Sensors installed in the area indicate that the ground is stabilising, although checks are ongoing to rule out hidden risks.
The uncertainty weighs especially on the evacuated families. It is not just about sleeping away from home for a few days: daily routines are disrupted, there are children, work, shopping, pets, medication, and a sense of insecurity that is hard to resolve until a clear return date is set.
Businesses are also feeling the impact. A forced closure, even if temporary, can mean loss of income, cancellations, unsold goods, and customers changing their habits. That is why the possibility of compensation has become a key issue for the neighbourhood.
The L9 tunnel boring machine is still operating, but at a more controlled pace. The machine alternates between advancing and stopping according to daily inspections, and halts during certain checks to prevent noise from interfering with technical measurements.
The main hypothesis points to a cavity created during drilling that did not receive enough concrete injection, which would have led to the surface collapse. The investigation remains open and the Government is urging caution until the exact causes are known.
The case once again highlights a key project for mobility in Barcelona, but also the everyday cost of building beneath a dense city. The L9 promises to better connect neighbourhoods and reduce travel times, although each incident is a reminder that the underground is also part of neighbourhood life when a major infrastructure moves forward beneath homes, streets, and businesses.