The situation in the north of Burgos has become critical after a sudden rockslide completely blocked the N-232 national road. This event not only disrupted transportation between key settlements but also heightened fears of potential flooding in Castilla y León. Residents and drivers have felt the impact: familiar routes are closed, and detours have lengthened journey times by almost five times.
The collapse occurred at night, as the heavy snowfalls and rains of recent weeks reached their peak. Massive boulders crashed down on the stretch between Valdenoceda and Incinillas, near Villarcayo de Merindad de Castilla la Vieja. Fortunately, no one was hurt, but the roadway and retaining walls were so badly damaged that repairs may take an indefinite amount of time.
Consequences of the collapse
Traffic on the N-232 is completely halted between kilometers 533.1 and 539.2. The damage is so extensive that the road is impassable for all vehicles. Authorities are not giving a timeline for reopening, and local residents and transporters have to use lengthy detours along mountain roads, which is especially hazardous due to ongoing rain and strong winds.
The road service has recommended several alternative routes; however, all of them require significantly more time. For example, a route that previously took only a few minutes may now stretch to almost an hour. In mountainous terrain and unpredictable weather conditions, this creates additional risks for all road users.
Flood threat
The weather anomalies of recent weeks have led to a sharp rise in river levels across the region. In Castilla y León, yellow and orange danger levels have been declared due to the risk of flooding. The situation is particularly difficult in the provinces of León and Zamora, where the Bernesga and Tera rivers have already overflowed their banks in certain areas.
Localized flooding has been recorded in some areas, and in Puente Resbala (Salamanca), a red alert is in effect due to the rising level of the Huebra River. Authorities are urging residents to exercise maximum caution and follow real-time updates on the state of roads and rivers.
Recommendations and routes
To minimize the impact of the N-232 closure, road services have proposed various detour options. To reach Villarcayo and head towards Santander, it is recommended to use the N-629 and CL-638 routes via Trespaderne and Medina de Pomar. For travel towards Logroño and Burgos, use CL-629 and N-629 via Oña.
Despite the suggested routes, many drivers report significantly longer travel times and challenges due to weather conditions. In the coming days, meteorologists forecast more precipitation and stronger winds, which could lead to new incidents on the roads and worsen the situation with the rivers.
Context and similar cases
In recent years, northern Spain has more frequently faced the consequences of extreme weather events. Similar landslides and road closures have already occurred in Asturias and Cantabria, where heavy rains and snowfalls caused infrastructure damage and temporary isolation of entire areas. In 2024, a comparable incident was recorded on the N-621 highway, when a landslide blocked traffic for several weeks.
Flooding and abrupt changes in river levels are becoming increasingly common, especially in mountainous regions. Last year, states of emergency were declared in Galicia and Navarra due to rivers overflowing their banks. Experts point out that such events require not only emergency response, but also long-term solutions to strengthen infrastructure and monitor risks.
