Overview
- A sinkhole that formed during L9 metro tunneling opened on July 7 and forced the evacuation of eight buildings; officials now say residents and businesses in Sant Gervasi de Cassoles 56 and 58 may return on Monday.
- The Generalitat has paused the tunnel-boring machine and is injecting cement into the tunnel zone while installing sensors to repeatedly monitor ground and building stability before any further returns.
- Technical authorities reported preliminary signs that not enough concrete was injected to fill cavities left by the tunneler, making that a leading hypothesis for why the void surfaced.
- Emergency teams have inspected 88 of the 93 affected flats, rehoused about 67 people in hotels so far, and plan direct aid for merchants plus a compensation fund with business support routed through an ICF credit line expected by the end of July.
- The site crosses changing rock types and a historic riera route, which complicates stabilization work and helps explain why officials say returns will be gradual and could take weeks or extend into September.