Torrential Rains Cause Flash Floods in Lanzarote’s Costa Teguise

Torrential Rains Cause Flash Floods in Lanzarote’s Costa Teguise

Torrential Rains Cause Flash Floods in Lanzarote’s Costa Teguise

So, imagine waking up to what’s supposed to be a peaceful, sunny morning in Lanzarote, and instead, you're greeted by rivers flowing through the streets. That’s exactly what happened this weekend as the island was hit by an intense wave of torrential rain, particularly in Costa Teguise and surrounding areas.

It all unfolded on Saturday, when an unexpected deluge dumped around 6 centimeters of rain — that's nearly 2.5 inches — in just two hours. It might not sound like much on paper, but for a place like Lanzarote, where the terrain is dry, volcanic, and not built to absorb heavy rainfall, that kind of sudden storm is a recipe for chaos.

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The island’s government moved quickly, declaring a state of emergency overnight. Thankfully, no injuries were reported, but the damage was widespread. Homes were flooded, roads submerged, and thick mud was left behind, especially in hard-hit areas like San Bartolomé. Emergency teams were working nonstop through the night, handling over 300 calls. Costa Teguise alone saw more than 150 incidents, with another 70-plus in Arrecife.

Videos are circulating on social media showing floodwaters tearing under bridges and cars completely stranded — or worse, swept away. It's shocking to see, especially in a destination people usually associate with beach holidays, sunshine, and serenity.

This extreme weather came on the heels of Storm Olivier, which had already swept across the Canary Islands, mainland Spain, and Portugal. The Canaries are always a bit more vulnerable in these situations because the dry volcanic soil just doesn’t soak up water like you’d hope — instead, it lets it run wild, and that’s exactly what we saw this weekend.

Spain’s weather services are on high alert now, issuing warnings for further storms across different parts of the country through Tuesday. And while the state of emergency has been lifted in Lanzarote, there’s a clear sense that the island will be cleaning up and recovering for some time.

This is a strong reminder that even paradise isn’t immune to the power of nature.

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