The Generalitat (Catalan Government) will open a permanent support office for residents affected by the sinkhole that formed during construction of the L9 metro line in the Putxet-Sant Gervasi district of Barcelona.

This was announced on Monday 14 September 2026 by Pilar Díaz, the Government delegate in Barcelona, during an interview on betevé’s morning programme Bon dia, Barcelona!. The office will operate for the duration of the repair works, serving as a dedicated point for information, assistance, and to receive concerns from affected residents and businesses.

While the exact opening date has not yet been specified, the Generalitat confirmed the office will remain active until all outstanding issues are resolved. In the meantime, affected individuals can continue to access support at the existing information point located at the Vil·la Florida community centre, where services from the Barcelona Urgent Care and Social Emergency Centre (CUESB), the Fire Service, and technical teams from the Government of Catalonia are already present.

On the same day as the announcement, affected residents are preparing to file a joint class-action lawsuit against both the Generalitat and the Barcelona City Council. Díaz acknowledged the move as coherent and understandable, stating: "These people have found themselves in a situation they did not cause themselves, and the Administration must respond to this."

The administration will have to respond to the incident. Once the causes are clarified, the administration will also claim from whoever is responsible.

Díaz noted that around two-thirds of affected residents are represented by the same legal team that handled claims following the 2005 Carmel sinkhole, which she described as experienced and acting in a "more than reasonable" manner.

Investigation and safety review ongoing

The Government has confirmed that a technical investigation into the cause of the sinkhole remains open. Díaz admitted that existing safety protocols, while previously considered robust, "were not as sound" as thought. The review will assess monitoring systems and procedures used during tunneling work.

She explained that ground-monitoring sensors had detected subsidence before residents reported the collapse, and that this data is now being analysed. The findings will inform future safety measures and determine responsibilities.

The Barcelona City Council continues to manage on-site safety, with a perimeter still in place on Rubinstein and Teodora Lamadrid streets. The Council has also activated Barcelona Activa to support affected businesses and maintains a dedicated helpline (674 660 005) operating from 10:00 to 21:00.

Primary sources: Barcelona City Council, govern.cat, territori.gencat.cat. Reported by barnadiario.com, democrata.es, ARA, en.ara.cat, russpain.com, ACN, elpais.com, es.ara.cat, lavanguardia.com, El Jardí, 20minutos.es, Barna Diario.