Spain: Streets Flooded After Severe Storms – Canary Islands in Emergency State

Hundreds of homes and roads have suffered severe damage after the storms that hit the popular tourist hotspot of Lanzarote following torrential rains on Saturday (12.04.2025) in the Canary Islands. The Canary Islands government declared a state of emergency for the tourist hotspot of Lanzarote after flash floods caused by heavy rainfall. No injuries were reported by Spanish authorities, and the state of emergency was lifted Sunday morning. Roads on the island turned into fast-flowing rivers, making it impossible for emergency services to reach cars and houses that were swept away by floodwaters. The head of emergency services in Lanzarote told local media that some houses had been submerged, leaving behind large amounts of debris. Residents who were forced to wade through the rushing water struggled to escape. In one video clip, an industrial waste bin is seen floating down a road, with waste spilling out of it. The torrential rain left behind a massive storm Saturday afternoon, prompting local officials to declare a state of emergency, which remained in effect until 7 p.m. local time Sunday morning. It was the first time government officials activated the state of emergency across the entire island under the Special Civil Protection Plan and Flood Risk Management Plan. In some areas, about 60 liters of water fell per square meter during the two-day storm. As a result, emergency services on the island were called 150 times within two hours for incidents related to weather conditions after the storm hit the island.