Lanzarote Faces Devastating Floods Following Torrential Rainfall

In the wake of Storm Olivier, the Canary Islands confront serious flooding as emergency services scramble to respond.

Lanzarote has recently been hit hard by severe flooding after experiencing a sudden downpour that overwhelmed the island's infrastructure. On Saturday, torrential rains led to the island's government declaring a state of emergency as 6 centimeters (2.4 inches) of rain fell within a brief two-hour period. Emergency protocols were activated, and although no injuries have been reported, the impacts were significant, with numerous homes submerged in floodwaters and extensive mud left behind.

Emergency services worked tirelessly throughout the night, responding to roughly 300 calls, with particular attention given to the areas of Arrecife and Teguise. Enrique Espinosa, head of Lanzarote's emergency services, stated that they had dealt with over 150 incidents in Costa Teguise alone, and additional calls were recorded in Arrecife. Among the hardest-hit areas was San Bartolomé, where the flooding led to dramatic scenes of surging water that stranded vehicles on submerged roads.

The recent downpour was linked to Storm Olivier, which had swept across the Canary Islands, mainland Spain, and parts of Portugal, resulting in multiple weather alerts. As the situation evolves, Spain's meteorological service has issued further warnings for various regions across the nation from Sunday to Tuesday, indicating heightened risks of storms, heavy rain, and strong winds. The recovery efforts are underway as Lanzarote begins to respond to the aftermath of this significant weather event.