Devastated holidaymakers in Lanzarote have been sharing the aftermath of floods on the Spanish island after a two-hour downpour that led to a state emergency being declared. Photos and videos shared on social media have shown the chaos caused by the floods, including pool areas covered in murky brown water.
Some 60 litres of water fell per square metre in just two hours in the worst affected areas on Saturday. Costa Teguise is one of Lanzarote’s most popular tourist spots but was among the areas worst hit. One person staying in a hotel on the east coast resort shared a video from a balcony overlooking the usually pristine pool area which was almost entirely covered in brown floodwater.
The pool’s edges are very hard to pick out in the video due to the sheer amount of flooded water.
The man, staying Hotel Beatriz Costa & Spa, also pointed the camera to the coast in the distance and said: “Even the sea’s turned brown where it’s come down from the mountains.”
Another video taken by the tourist closer up showed the extent of the flooding in more detail.
However, he posted another video on TikTok on Sunday morning that showed the pool area in a much better condition.
A family staying at the nearby El Trebol hotel apartments in Costa Teguise were also affected.
They shared a video of the pool area which had also been covered in dirty floodwater.
In a post, the family said “everywhere flooded, including the food hall” and said there had been no running water.
They said they felt sorry for the locals as the “damage is bad” but also paid tribute to their hotel for its efforts.
“The hotel staff have tried so hard to do what they can, they must be exhausted,” they said in a post on TikTok.
Another person staying in the same hotel also shared a video of the aftermath and said he was moving to a new hotel.
While another person posted clips of roads in Costa Teguise covered in thick mud brought in by the floods, as well as more pool areas affected.
No injuries have been reported by the authorities following the floods and the state of emergency was lifted by the Canary Islands government on Sunday morning.
The municipalities of Arrecife and San Bartolome were the other worst affected areas.
Enrique Espinosa, head of emergency services for the Lanzarote government, told TV channel RTVE on Sunday: “We have been working all night, attending 300 calls overnight, many of them in Arrecife and Teguise. Some houses are flooded and what remains is a great quantity of mud.”
Lanzarote is a popular destination for tourists, particularly for Brits, offering all-year round warm weather, beaches, watersports and more.
The heavy rain and floods on Saturday came days after the island was battered by Storm Oliver.
Multiple flights to and from Lanzarote’s airport were cancelled because of dangerous flying conditions.