Easter holidays journey warning for Lanzarote as state of emergency declared at widespread Spanish island amid flooding

The government of the Canary Islands has declared a state of emergency on the holiday hotspot of Lanzarote, after the island crippled by a two-hour deluge of rain that caused intense flooding. 

The streets on the island were turned into a deep, fast-flowing rivers that left cars on them impossible to reach and homes lining them completely soaked through. 

The ground around many of the island’s towns became waterlogged, leaving vast swathes of land covered in dirty, muddy water.  

Citizens forced to wade through the rushing water were seen struggling as they tried to make their way to safety.  

In one clip, an industrial bin was seen floating down a street on its side, with refuse spilling from its top. 

The torrential rain, left by an enormous storm on Saturday afternoon, forced local officials to call a state of emergency which was in place until 7am local time this morning. 

It was the first time government officials activated the island-wide emergency under the Special Civil Protection and Emergency Response Plan for Flood Risk. 

In some spots, around 60 litres of water fell on each square metre during the two-hour storm. 

Shocking footage has revealed Lanzarote submerged under water after the holiday hotspot was hit with a two-hour deluge

The torrential rain, left by an enormous storm on Saturday afternoon, forced local officials to call a state of emergency which was in place until 7am local time this morning

The streets on the island were turned into a deep, fast-flowing rivers that left cars on them impossible to reach and homes lining them completely soaked through

As a result, emergency services on the island were called 150 times for weather-related incidents in the two hours after the storm hit the island. 

The city of Arrecife, on the island’s south, was hit particularly hard by the extreme weather – locals were met by the stench of untreated sewage caused by flooding overwhelming the drainage system.

Also badly affected were the towns of Tahiche, Costa Teguise, Guatiza and Nazaret. 

But somehow, other parts of the island were completely dry. 

Despite this, officials warned locals and tourists alike to take precautions and to avoid unnecessary journeys. 

It comes weeks after the Spanish holiday hotspot of Malaga turned white after a freak winter storm covered parts of the region in a blanket of hail and snow.  

Striking images and footage emerging show streets submerged in floodwater and heavy hail crashing down from grey skies.

Giant hailstorms were seen hitting cars and leaving the roads covered in white icy rocks in the town of Alhaurín el Grande. 

Large hail also fell in areas such as Campanillas, Puerto de la Torre and Teatinos after Spain’s national weather agency Aemet had extended a yellow warning for heavy rain and hail.  

Torcal de Antequera, a popular tourist destination, also experienced the heavy snowfall, which made for spectacular scenes.

In one clip, an industrial bin was seen floating down a street on its side, with refuse spilling from its top

In some spots, around 60 litres of water fell on each square metre during the two-hour storm

Officials warned locals and tourists alike to take precautions and to avoid unnecessary journeys

‘If you like the magic of nature in its purest form, this is the perfect time to visit. Don’t miss it!,’ TorcalAntequera wrote in a post on X, taking advantage of the rare occurrence.

The snow-capped mountains are even visible from Malaga Airport, and have left holidaymakers and locals stunned by the weather.

Further west, Sierra Bermeja, behind Estepona, has also witnessed significant snowfall, offering more Winter Wonderland scenes.