The island of Mallorca is a peaceful place, a fun location and, for many, a holiday paradise. One can easily forget that there can be some dark sides to this idyllic setting as well, unfortunately.

The Mallorcan mountains, for instance, are often cause for misadventure and accidents. Luckily, the local fire brigades, the Protecció Civil and in particular, the Guardia Civil and its Grupo de Rescate e Intervención en Montaña are there to help in such adversities. Between 50 and 100 rescue operations have to be carried out every year in Mallorca’s mountains, would you believe it? Often, people are ill equipped for some ambitious hiking. Sometimes, weather patterns change for the worse without previous forewarning. Thankfully, quite a large number of missing people or victims of accidents can usually be found and rescued without severe injuries or lacerations, but five or six fatalities occur every year, give or take a few.

Mishaps can be avoided by careful planning. The Govern de les Illes Balears and its Department of Civil Protection offer a Servei d’Emergències de les Illes Balears (SEIB, Emergency Service). If you are planning on a mountaineering excursion, you could telephone 112 and alert the services of the planned itinerary, timing and other circumstances, and your expedition will be monitored and safeguarded. I understand that the British Consulate has signed a Conveni de Col·laboració agreement with SEIB to assist British tourists and residents alike.

The photo (top) was taken from the Internet, courtesy of diariodemallorca.es and the Guardia Civil. The photo (bottom) was also taken from the Internet, courtesy of caib.es.

Muchas gracias and moltes gràcies.