Storm Alert in Ibiza: Learn Spanish Emergency Phrases
Alerta por lluvias intensas en Ibiza y Formentera
Sep 18, 2026·1 min read·Graded Spanish · word-by-word audio
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Los ciudadanos de Ibiza y Formentera recibieron un aviso del sistema ES-Alert. El mensaje pedía máxima precaución por las lluvias intensas y las fuertes rachas de viento. Se recomendaba evitar desplazamientos y actividades al aire libre. Si alguien necesitaba ayuda, debía llamar al 112. Emergencias también pidió no acercarse a torrentes ni a zonas inundables.
La Agencia Estatal de Meteorología activó el aviso naranja en Ibiza y Formentera. Se esperaban hasta 50 litros por metro cuadrado en una hora. En Mallorca, el nivel de alerta era amarillo, con precipitaciones de hasta 20 litros por metro cuadrado. Las temperaturas oscilaban entre 26 y 29 grados.
La Universitat de les Illes Balears suspendió las actividades académicas en Ibiza y Formentera. En Palma y Menorca, las clases continuaron con normalidad. Desde el miércoles hasta el jueves, hubo 19 incidencias en Baleares, como inundaciones y caída de árboles. Emergencias recomendó evitar los desplazamientos innecesarios.
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Watch out, English speaker
English speakers often try to form passive sentences with ser + past participle, but Spanish news frequently uses se + third-person verb instead. For example, 'Se recomendaba evitar desplazamientos' means 'Avoiding travel was recommended,' not 'It was recommended to avoid travel' with ser. Using ser here would sound unnatural and change the focus.
In English, past unreal conditionals use 'if + past simple, would + verb' (e.g., 'If someone needed help, they would call 112'). Spanish, however, often uses the imperfect tense in both clauses for past general conditions: 'Si alguien necesitaba ayuda, debía llamar al 112.' English speakers may mistakenly insert the conditional 'llamaría' instead of the imperfect 'debía,' which shifts the meaning to a hypothetical rather than a habitual past situation.
Another common trap is translating 'se + verb' as a reflexive action. In 'Se esperaban precipitaciones,' the se is not reflexive; it marks an impersonal passive meaning 'Precipitations were expected.' English speakers might wrongly think it means 'They expected themselves,' which makes no sense. Always check if se can be replaced by 'one' or a passive construction in English.
Key vocabulary
avisom.
warning, notice
“Los ciudadanos recibieron un aviso del sistema ES-Alert.”— Citizens received a warning from the ES-Alert system.
Pattern recibir un aviso to receive an alert
Compare alerta f. alert
plural avisos
💡 From the verb avisar (to notify); remember that "avisar" means "to notify".
precauciónf.
caution, precaution
“El mensaje pedía máxima precaución por las lluvias intensas.”— The message asked for maximum caution due to heavy rain.
Pattern máxima precaución maximum caution
Compare cuidado m. caution
plural precauciones
💡 From Latin praecautio, pre- (beforehand) + cautio (caution).
desplazamientom.
travel, movement
“Se recomendaba evitar desplazamientos y actividades al aire libre.”— Travel and outdoor activities were recommended to be avoided.
Pattern evitar desplazamientos to avoid travel
Compare viaje m. trip
plural desplazamientos
💡 From the verb desplazar (to move), des- (away) + plazar (to place).
inundableadj.
prone to flooding
“Emergencias pidió no acercarse a zonas inundables.”— Emergency services asked people not to approach flood-prone areas.
Pattern zonas inundables flood-prone areas
Compare anegable adj. that may be flooded
plural inundables
💡 From inundar (to flood), -able means "able to be...".
torrentem.
stream, torrent
“No se debe acceder a torrentes durante lluvias intensas.”— One should not enter streams during heavy rain.
Pattern no acercarse a torrentes do not go near streams
Compare arroyo m. stream
plural torrentes
💡 From Latin torrens, referring to a fast-flowing river.
precipitaciónf.
rainfall, precipitation
“Se esperaban precipitaciones de hasta 20 litros por metro cuadrado.”— Rainfall of up to 20 liters per square meter was expected.
Pattern precipitaciones intensas heavy rainfall
Compare lluvia f. rain
plural precipitaciones
💡 From Latin praecipitatio, referring to water falling from the sky.
oscilav.
fluctuate, vary
“Las temperaturas oscilaban entre 26 y 29 grados.”— Temperatures fluctuated between 26 and 29 degrees.
Pattern oscilar entre... y... to fluctuate between... and...
Compare variar v. to vary
oscila, oscilan, oscilaba
💡 From Latin oscillare, meaning to swing like a pendulum.
suspenderv.
suspend, cancel
“La universidad suspendió las actividades académicas.”— The university suspended academic activities.
Pattern suspender las actividades to suspend activities
Compare cancelar v. to cancel
suspendió, suspendido
💡 From Latin suspendere, sus- (up) + pendere (to hang).
incidenciaf.
incident, event
“Hubo 19 incidencias en Baleares.”— There were 19 incidents in the Balearic Islands.
Pattern 19 incidencias 19 incidents
Compare incidente m. incident
plural incidencias
💡 From Latin incidentia, referring to an event that occurs.
💡 in- (not) + necesario (necessary); note the double n.
Grammar spotlight
Passive voice: se + third-person verb
A2
In Spanish, the structure 'se + third-person verb' is commonly used to express passive meaning, equivalent to the English 'is/was + past participle'. This structure does not emphasize the agent of the action and is often used in news and formal writing.
“Se recomendaba evitar desplazamientos y actividades al aire libre.”— It was recommended to avoid travel and outdoor activities.
⚠️ Don't confuse it with reflexive verbs, e.g., 'se lava' could mean 'he washes himself' or 'it is washed'; context is needed to determine the meaning.
Conditional sentences: si + imperfect, main clause in imperfect
B1
To express possible situations in the past, you can use the structure 'si + imperfect, main clause in imperfect', meaning 'if... then...'. This structure is often used to describe general conditions in the past.
“Si alguien necesitaba ayuda, debía llamar al 112.”— If someone needed help, they should call 112.
⚠️ Be careful not to confuse the imperfect with the preterite; here it indicates a past ongoing state or habit.
Sentence patterns to steal
Se recomendaba evitar desplazamientos y actividades al aire libre.
It was recommended to avoid travel and outdoor activities.
Se recomendaba + infinitiveReplaceable verbs: Se pedía, Se aconsejaba; replaceable content: evitar viajes, no salir de casa
Si el agua entra en una casa, hay que subir a las plantas superiores y alejarse de las áreas inundadas.
If water enters a house, you must go up to higher floors and move away from flooded areas.
Si + condition, hay que + infinitiveReplaceable conditions: Si hay un terremoto, Si hay un incendio; replaceable advice: bajar al sótano, llamar a emergencias
La población debe estar atenta a la evolución del tiempo y seguir las indicaciones de los servicios de emergencia.
The public should stay alert to weather changes and follow the instructions of emergency services.
debe + infinitive + y + infinitiveReplaceable verbs: tiene que, es necesario; replaceable content: estar atento a las noticias, seguir las instrucciones
ES-Alert System: Spain's Emergency Alert System
ES-Alert is an emergency alert system launched by Spain's Ministry of the Interior that sends alert messages to people in specific areas via mobile phone base stations. When emergencies such as natural disasters or terrorist attacks occur, the system sends SMS-like alerts to all mobile phones, reminding people to take safety measures. The system was launched in 2022 and is part of the EU's 'Reverse 112' project.
Source: Spanish Ministry of the Interior official website