Severe Flooding Hits Lanzarote After Torrential Rainfall

Lanzarote is facing significant disruption after an intense storm system swept across the island, delivering record-breaking rainfall in just a few short hours.

Hardest hit were coastal and central areas including Arrecife, Costa Teguise, and San Bartolomé. In some neighborhoods, floodwaters reached knee height, inundating homes, hotels, and local businesses. Many residents were left without power, and emergency crews responded to hundreds of calls over the weekend.

Infrastructure Strained

Lanzarote, like many of the Canary Islands, is not built to handle large volumes of rainfall in a short period of time. This kind of flash flooding places enormous stress on local infrastructure.

Roads and Transportation: Many local roads became impassable due to standing water, debris, and minor landslides. Some routes had to be closed entirely, disrupting public transport and isolating certain residential areas. Flooded roads also increase the risk of traffic accidents and vehicle damage, especially in tourist-heavy zones.

Drainage Systems: The island’s urban drainage systems—designed for dry, semi-arid conditions—were quickly overwhelmed. As a result, rainwater accumulated rapidly, especially in low-lying areas and older neighborhoods lacking modern flood control infrastructure.

Public Services: Temporary power cuts and interruptions to water supply were reported in several areas, particularly in zones where substations or pumping facilities were affected. Emergency response teams faced delays in reaching all affected zones due to blocked roads and poor visibility.

Impact on Tourism and Local Economy

As a major tourist destination, Lanzarote’s economy is highly sensitive to weather events. Flooding like this can cause cancellations of hotel bookings and excursions, closures of beaches and tourist attractions, delays and diversions at Lanzarote Airport, and infrastructure damage at coastal resorts.

For businesses, cleanup and repairs can lead to lost revenue—especially for small family-run hotels, restaurants, and shops that rely on Easter and spring holiday visitors.

What’s Next?

Spain’s national weather agency (AEMET) has issued ongoing alerts for continued storms and strong winds in the coming days. Residents and visitors have been urged to avoid unnecessary travel and stay updated via official advisories.

Authorities have already begun clean-up efforts and damage assessments. However, full recovery may take days or even weeks, depending on how much more rain the island receives.