A contradictory situation is unfolding on Ibiza regarding illegal caravan settlements. A judicial commission arrived to evict a settlement in the CAN Misses area, where about 80 people had been living in caravans, tents and huts since July. By the time the commission arrived, the settlement was almost empty: only three people remained, packing their belongings. This is the sixth illegal settlement evicted on Ibiza since 2024.
At the same time, about 60 residents of some 30 caravans in the largest settlement, Sa Joveria, temporarily avoided eviction carried out by authorities on Tuesday. Police told them the eviction procedure had not yet officially begun, but that it would take place in the future. The caravans are located in a public easement zone, which temporarily protects them, although local rules prohibit overnight stays in public places.
The residents, mostly Spaniards and South Americans, do not plan to leave soon but have no alternative housing options. One resident, Lucia, works as a cleaner in a hospital but her salary is not enough to rent accommodation; she claims she lives better in an equipped caravan with water and solar panels than in a rented room for €1,000. Another resident, Amaya, rents a caravan for €450 per month, cheaper than an apartment. Earlier, the municipality notified residents to vacate the private land by April 29. About 80 people, including Elena Núñez, are asking for an alternative plot, threatening otherwise to take the caravans onto the street. According to the Red Cross, last July the island had 1,200 people living in 655 non-standard dwellings.