The popular holiday islands, Tenerife and La Gomera have been hit by flash floods due to heavy rain falling on the Canary Islands since Saturday, including seven inches of rain falling in 12 hours yesterday. The concentration of the rainfall is said to have fallen on Santa Cruz, the historic port on Tenerife’s northeastern tip.
Thousands of holidaymakers have been caught up in flash flooding in Tenerife, with tourists warned to remain inside their hotels for their own safety. Everyone on the island has been advised to avoid driving unless their journey is absolutely essential.
Fast-flowing waters and landslides have led to road closures, several streets and homes have been flooded, and a number of ravines have become flowing rivers. The deluge has forced people to flee their homes, power and telephone lines are down, plus there’s currently no access to the port. Air traffic at the Rodeos airport was restored this morning after the rain stopped in the north of the island.
Local media have reported that five people have died after two and a half hours of heavy rain on the islands of Tenerife and La Gomera. It is not yet clear whether any foreign visitors are among the casualties.
One of the fatalities includes a 56-year-old woman who died after suffering a heart attack as she was swept along by flood water and becoming trapped under a parked car in Santa Cruz.
