Residents of block 28 in Somosierra initiated a complaint about structural damage, which subsequently spread to other buildings like 27 and 31. Now, block 24 also exhibits cracks and spalling, with uplifted sidewalks impeding passage.
The key development is the existence of a 2002 report that documented structural damage requiring intervention from the Cabildo de Tenerife. Residents assert that foundation issues date back much further.
“"The entire floor sank on me"
The report, prepared by architect Carlos Guigou Fernández at the request of the Urban Planning Department, detailed defects in ground floor slabs and partition walls, attributed to groundwater presence from sanitation leaks or rainwater runoff.
The document warned that the air pockets formed beneath the slab could pose a danger to individuals in case of collapse, a situation that, according to the architect, had been ongoing for over 20 years.
The Somosierra blocks were constructed in the fifties and sold starting in 1986. The architect estimated that the problems predated the ownership change.
The 2002 report recommended the complete replacement of the slabs and verification of the buried network. Vibrations from nearby highway construction and the rains from the March 2002 flood may have exacerbated the subsidence.
Residents such as Mary Carmen Hernández and Nayra Ventoso report dampness, faulty downpipes, and uncertainty regarding the buildings' condition, recalling issues from 24 years ago.
