The Canary Islands are bracing for disaster after a key reservoir swelled to near-breaking point amid relentless downpours, as the archipelago pleads for military help to prevent catastrophe.
More than 3,000 people have been evacuated or left stranded across Gran Canaria alone after a night of relentless rain sent water levels surging and cut off entire communities.
Authorities issued an urgent warning after the Fataga reservoir, in San Bartolome de Tirajana, surged within two metres of capacity, raising fears that thousands of litres of water could come crashing down the ravine below with little warning.
A flight to Lanzarote Airport also saw a pilot braving strong winds during a descent, before deciding to abort the shaky landing due to the adverse weather.
Local media have dubbed it ‘the storm of the decade’, with holidaymakers being told to stay inside as hotels and beaches are left battered, and roads are collapsed.
The threat has sparked alarm in the nearby hamlet of Arteara, where residents face the terrifying prospect of being cut off entirely.
The village sits at the base of the Fataga ravine and relies on crossing the gorge for access – a route now at risk of becoming impassable if waters continue to rise.
Officials from both the island’s governing Cabildo and local council have urged people to stockpile essential supplies, warning the community could be temporarily isolated as conditions deteriorate.
A flight to Lanzarote Airport also saw a pilot braving strong winds during a descent, before deciding to abort the shaky landing due to the adverse weather
Officials from both the island’s governing Cabildo and local council have urged people to stockpile essential supplies, warning the community could be temporarily isolated as conditions deteriorate
Storm Therese leaves collapsed roads and stranded people in Gran Canaria
They have also urged people to stay indoors and avoid all unnecessary travel as an orange weather alert remains in force.
Emergency chiefs stress the situation is critical, cautioning that ignoring official advice and safety guidelines could prove fatal.
The crisis deepened overnight as torrential rain from Storm Therese caused ravines to burst their banks and roads to collapse across Gran Canaria.
At least 12 routes have been shut due to landslides, flooding, and rockfalls, effectively sealing off parts of the south.
In a dramatic escalation, the island president, Antonio Morales, triggered a Level 2 emergency response – a move that allows Spain’s Military Emergency Unit to deploy heavy machinery and personnel to the stricken region.
Emergency services confirmed that 19 dams across the island have now reached capacity and are effectively releasing water into already swollen ravines, compounding the risk of further flooding in multiple areas.
The technical director of emergencies, Federico Grillo, warned that the amount of rainfall in the early hours had dramatically worsened conditions, particularly in the south.
Meanwhile, the chaos has extended to the skies.
According to the airport operator AENA, strong winds and dangerous conditions forced the cancellation of an inter-island flight from Gran Canaria, while eight others were diverted as nearby Lanzarote bore the brunt of the storm.
Flights from Hamburg, Frankfurt, and Rotterdam were rerouted to Gran Canaria, while services from London, Manchester, and Newcastle were diverted to Fuerteventura.
Passengers were left stranded, causing widespread delays as aircraft were unable to land at their intended destinations.
Footage captured the moment one Jet2 plane attempted to make a wobbly landing at Lanzarote Airport as the plane rocked from side to side.
At least 12 routes have been shut due to landslides, flooding, and rockfalls, effectively sealing off parts of the south
Beaches have been left destroyed after heavy winds and rainfall battered the island
A pilot braved harsh winds as they attempted to make a landing at Lanzarote Airport
Roads have turned into rivers due to the torrential downpours brought by Storm Therese
After almost touching down, the plane slowly began to lift off again amid howling winds as the sea crashed ahead.
On the island of Agaete, the Island Council, together with the Agaete Town Council, evacuated the residents of Los Perez and El Hornillo after the Los Perez dam began releasing water for the third time in history.
Firefighters from the capital and local police also had to rescue three people caught off guard by the flash flood in the Guiniguada ravine – two cyclists and a woman who was trapped in the streambed.
In one of the rescues, the Emergency Response Group was called in to intervene from the air.
Amid the storm, which has seen waves up to four meters high, some 60 people were rescued south of Tenerife from a small boat, according to local media.
Several women and children were on board, and some of the occupants required assistance upon reaching the Los Cristianos dock.
Despite the severity of the harsh weather conditions, officials confirmed there have so far been no reported injuries.
However, with water levels still rising and infrastructure under strain, fears remain that the worst may yet be to come.
