Severe Flooding Engulfs Lanzarote After Heavy Rainfall

Lanzarote was struck by significant flooding as heavy rains paralyzed several areas, leading to a declaration of emergency by local authorities.

After experiencing an intense downpour of 6cm (2.4 inches) in just two hours, Lanzarote has been grappling with widespread flooding, which affected homes and transportation across the Canary Island. The local government imposed a state of emergency that was lifted by Sunday morning, as no injuries were reported. Enrique Espinosa, head of Lanzarote's emergency services, highlighted the chaos, noting that they had managed over 300 emergency calls through the night, especially from the more severely affected areas like Arrecife and Teguise. Dramatic images and videos on social media have shown streets submerged and vehicles trapped in floodwaters. The severe weather was triggered by Storm Olivier, which impacted multiple regions including mainland Spain and Portugal, prompting various weather warnings throughout the Iberian Peninsula for the upcoming days. The situation remains a point of concern as forecasts indicate continued adverse weather across the region.