Severe Rainfall Causes Widespread Flooding in Lanzarote

Lanzarote experienced heavy flooding after two hours of intense rain, leading to a government declaration of emergency, though no injuries have been reported.

Severe flooding has struck Lanzarote following a torrential downpour that affected the popular tourist spot on Saturday. As 6cm (2.4 inches) of rain fell within a short period, the local government took swift action, declaring a state of emergency. Fortunately, Spanish authorities reported no injuries resulting from the flooding, and the emergency status was revoked by Sunday morning.

Enrique Espinosa, head of Lanzarote's emergency services, informed the public that they received around 300 emergency calls through the night, particularly from the towns of Arrecife and Teguise. Local media report that emergency responders managed over 150 incidents in Costa Teguise alone and dealt with more than 70 in Arrecife. The area of San Bartolomé was noted as experiencing significant damage.

Social media has been flooded with striking videos showcasing the intense surge of floodwater gushing under bridges and leaving numerous vehicles stranded on inundated streets. The torrential rain was attributed to the aftermath of Storm Olivier, which has recently traversed the Canary Islands as well as mainland Spain and parts of Portugal. The national meteorological service has initiated several weather alerts predicting storms and heavy rain in various regions across Spain from Sunday through Tuesday, impacting the northeastern areas, Balearic islands, and coastal regions.