Madrid closes Sol metro station over 'unhealthy conditions' at illegal squatting camp

The Madrid regional government has ordered the immediate closure of Sol metro station to carry out urgent cleaning after toxic gases were detected, caused by the build-up of urine, excrement and other organic waste. Regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso justified the measure by citing the unhealthy conditions inside the facility.

Sol station, located at Madrid's kilometre zero, has shut its doors. The regional government took the decision on Friday after receiving a technical report warning of the presence of toxic gases in the metro's shafts and ventilation accesses. The gases stem from the accumulation of urine, excrement and other organic waste generated during the housing encampment that has occupied Puerta del Sol for three weeks.

## Urgent cleaning and safety work

The stop, which serves both Metro and Cercanías commuter trains, will remain closed while the cleaning work and necessary safety checks are carried out. Regional president **Isabel Díaz Ayuso** announced the measure in an interview with EsRadio. "We are going to have to close it. It was requested by occupational risk prevention and the unions," she said. The regional leader described the situation as "extremely serious" and stated that "right now there are unhealthy conditions inside" the facility.

For now, there is no reopening date. The station has been the epicentre of political tension in recent days. On Wednesday, the **National Police** closed the metro entrances for a few minutes for safety reasons due to the crowds that were forming, coinciding with the teachers' demonstration and the encampment itself.

## A standoff at kilometre zero

The closure of Sol adds another chapter to the conflict between the Madrid regional government and the participants in the encampment. The housing protest reaches its three-week mark this Saturday. The regional administration's decision is based on a technical report that detected the gases on Thursday afternoon. The cleaning and safety inspections will determine when one of the busiest stations on the Madrid network can resume operations.

The situation affects thousands of daily Metro and Cercanías users. Public transport alternatives in the area require transfers at nearby stations such as **Ópera** or **Tirso de Molina**. The Madrid regional government has not detailed the cost of the works or the estimated duration of the closure.