Barcelona tackles rat infestation at Zona Franca settlement

The City Council and the Consortium launch a pest control operation without evicting residents from the industrial area.

General view of an industrial estate street with construction fences and urban signage.
IA

General view of an industrial estate street with construction fences and urban signage.

The Barcelona City Council launched a public health operation this Tuesday to combat a rat infestation at the settlement located on Street Number 2 in Zona Franca.

The operation, carried out in collaboration with the Zona Franca Consortium, has cleared part of the settlement where approximately 175 people live. The action follows the detection of a significant rodent plague posing health risks to residents and nearby industrial companies.

"No one is being evicted, and those affected can move a few meters away to the area not affected by the pest control."

Municipal sources · Barcelona City Council
The operation will be conducted in phases, including cleaning and the application of chemical products. Since January, social work has intensified with the Red Cross and CUESB to address vulnerability. According to official data, between 135 and 150 residents are already linked to municipal social services.
Once the cleaning is complete, the area will be cordoned off and signed to warn of the presence of chemicals. The Guàrdia Urbana and Mossos d'Esquadra collaborated in the operation, which was communicated to residents several days in advance.