In brief
Emergency services respond to record rainfall while the local government issues weather warnings across Spain.
Hundreds of homes and roads were submerged on Lanzarote after torrential rains inundated the popular holiday island on Saturday. The local government declared a state of emergency during the night after an alarming 6cm (2.4 inches) of rain fell in just two hours. Thankfully, no injuries were reported, and the state of emergency was rescinded by Sunday morning. Enrique Espinosa, head of Lanzarote’s emergency services, shared with local media that significant flooding occurred with many homes submerged and enormous amounts of mud left by receding waters. Emergency personnel handled around 300 calls through the night, addressing more than 150 incidents in Costa Teguise and over 70 in Arrecife alone. The area of San Bartolomé was notably affected by the downpour, according to the local government.Dramatic videos shared on social media platforms depict a fierce torrent of floodwater rushing under a bridge, leaving multiple vehicles stranded on submerged roads. The Canary Islands, characterized by their dry climate and volcanic rock, are especially susceptible to flooding from intense rain, as the ground struggles to absorb large water volumes.The torrential showers followed Storm Olivier, which recently affected the Canaries, mainland Spain, and Portugal. Spain's meteorological service has issued warnings for various areas across the country from Sunday through Tuesday, forecasting storms in the northeast, rainfall in the Balearic Islands, and strong winds along both northern and southern coastlines.
