Water from ruptured conduits flooded Madrid’s Plaza de Castilla courts on 24 June 2026, and sections of the ceiling collapsed, forcing several basic areas to close and raising urgent safety concerns among staff. Water poured into offices and the garage, which was scheduled to be used later by Begoña Gómez, the wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, for her court appearance.
The disruption affected one of Spain’s busiest judicial complexes, where more than 3,000 professionals work daily. Water entered offices and the garage entrance designated for Gómez’s arrival, as authorized by María Jesús del Barco, president of the Tribunal de Instancia de Madrid. The leak prompted officials to shut off the building’s water supply to prevent further damage and begin emergency repairs.
Staff described the building’s condition as “deplorable” and raised concerns about electrical hazards after water reached elevators and electronic equipment. All lifts were taken out of service as a precaution. Affected areas included the Service for Judicial Advice and Information and the Detainee Assistance area. The Duty Court was affected too, and services were relocated to other parts of the courthouse. Images shared by employees showed sections of ceiling collapsed onto desks and floors.
The CSIF union announced plans to file another formal complaint with the authorities, citing the courthouse’s deterioration and the lack of urgent action despite repeated warnings. The union said the conditions endangered staff and the public and called for immediate intervention to restore safe working conditions.
Despite the damage, the scheduled garage entry for Gómez was set to proceed. Access to the sixth floor, where she was due to submit her passport, was restricted to authorized lawyers and judges, along with court officials, a small group of accredited media and the court’s communications team. Gómez was scheduled to appear alongside Cristina Álvarez and Juan Carlos Barrabés in proceedings associated with Judge Juan Carlos Peinado.
The Plaza de Castilla courts are owned by the Comunidad de Madrid, making the regional government a basic authority on the complex’s upkeep and future plans. Separately, El Periódico de España reported that the region plans to move administrative offices to the area around Plaza de Castilla from 2029. The proposal forms part of a wider public-infrastructure context, but does not establish a repair plan for the courthouse.
The regional government’s longer-term judicial infrastructure program also includes the Ciudad de la Justicia. Europa Press reported in October 2026 that construction had reached the structural phase for the Tribunal Superior de Justicia de Madrid and the Audiencia Provincial. Interior installations, façade work and utility channels were among the next stages, which were projected to continue for about a year.
The Plaza de Castilla courts have faced infrastructure problems before. Two weeks earlier, CSIF reported suspected bedbug bites among staff resting in the Duty Court area, although a regional government pest-control report found no evidence of an infestation. In a separate incident two years earlier, major unions protested outside the courthouse during a heatwave, demanding lower indoor temperatures after staff reported working in conditions reaching 39 degrees Celsius. Emergency cooling units provided by the regional infrastructure service were deemed insufficient and in poor condition.
Madrid’s public buildings have faced a series of safety and maintenance challenges in recent years. After a fire forced the evacuation of the Moeve Tower, more than 2,000 employees were shifted to remote work, as detailed in this report on the Moeve Tower incident. The Plaza de Castilla flooding adds to concerns about the ability to recover of public facilities and the continuity of impressive services in the Spanish capital.
The Plaza de Castilla courts remain a central hub for Madrid’s justice system, handling thousands of cases and receiving daily visitors. The incident has renewed calls for comprehensive repairs and long-term investment in public facilities to protect staff and visitors and keep impressive services operating.
