A major water leak has caused flooding and ceiling collapses at the Plaza de Castilla courts in Madrid. Key areas were closed, and staff raised alarms over safety risks and poor building conditions.
Severe flooding and multiple ceiling collapses hit the Plaza de Castilla courts in Madrid early today, forcing the closure of several key areas and raising urgent safety concerns among staff. The incident, caused by a rupture in the building’s water conduits, left water pouring into offices and the garage, which is scheduled to be used later by Begoña Gómez, the wife of the Prime Minister, for her court appearance.
The disruption affected one of Spain’s busiest judicial complexes, where over 3,000 professionals work daily. Water infiltrated not only offices but also the garage entrance, which had been designated for Begoña Gómez’s secure arrival, as authorized by María Jesús del Barco, president of the Tribunal de Instancia de Madrid. The leak forced the shutdown of water supply throughout the building to prevent further damage and allowed emergency repairs to begin.
Staff described the building’s condition as “deplorable,” noting that today’s flooding created new hazards, especially electrical risks from water entering elevators and electronic equipment. As a precaution, all lifts were taken out of service. The affected zones included the Service for Judicial Advice and Information, the Detainee Assistance area, and the Duty Court, all of which had to be relocated to other parts of the courthouse. Images shared by employees showed sections of ceiling collapsed onto desks and floors, highlighting the scale of the damage.
The CSIF union announced plans to file another formal complaint with authorities, citing the ongoing deterioration of the courthouse and the lack of urgent action despite repeated warnings. They emphasized that the current situation endangers both staff and the public, and called for immediate intervention to restore safe working conditions.
Despite the extensive damage, sources from the Tribunal Superior de Justicia de Madrid confirmed that Begoña Gómez’s scheduled entry through the garage would proceed as planned. Access to the sixth floor, where she must submit her passport, will be strictly limited to authorized lawyers, judges, court officials, and a small group of accredited media, along with the court’s communications team.
This is not the first time the Plaza de Castilla courts have faced infrastructure problems. Just two weeks ago, CSIF reported suspected bedbug bites among staff resting in the duty court area, though the regional government’s pest control report found no evidence of infestation. In a separate incident two years ago, major unions staged a protest 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. For example, 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. These repeated incidents highlight ongoing concerns about the state of critical infrastructure in the Spanish capital.
The Plaza de Castilla courts remain a central hub for Madrid’s justice system, handling thousands of cases and daily visitors. The latest flooding underscores the urgent need for comprehensive repairs and long-term investment in public facilities to ensure safety and continuity of essential services.
