Airport Closed, Beaches Shut, and Tourists Trapped

Gran Canaria and Tenerife Battered by Torrential Rain, Airport Closed

Gran Canaria and Tenerife, popular tourist destinations in the Canary Islands, have been hit by days of torrential rainfall, causing widespread flooding and forcing the closure of Gran Canaria Airport.

The heavy rains have turned streets into rivers, swept cars downstream, and caused reservoirs to burst their banks, covering entire neighborhoods in sludge and debris. Seven beaches in Telde, Gran Canaria, have been closed to the public due to the flooding.

At least 80 people were trapped in a supermarket in Tenerife as rising waters cut off access to the car park. Authorities are urging locals and tourists to avoid travel and parking near ravines as more heavy rain is forecast.

Gran Canaria Airport has been rendered inoperable by the deluge, with all flights cancelled. Work is underway to make the airport operational as soon as possible.

The Mayor of Telde, Juan Antonio Peña, has been seen helping with rescue efforts, sweeping water out of the streets and trying to make the town safe for tourists again. He thanked the public for their understanding, help, and support.

The Telde City Council has closed access to all beaches in the city due to the danger risk. The beaches are not in a condition to receive users, and work is being done to clean them up as quickly as possible.

A reservoir with 700,000 liters of water for irrigation burst, closing one road in Telde. Spain's meteorological agency, AEMET, has issued a special warning for heavy rains until Wednesday on parts of the island network popular with British holidaymakers.

Flooding has become more common in Spain, with the country still reeling from the devastating floods in Valencia in November that killed 217 people and displaced thousands.

AEMET has warned of more heavy rains to come, with the largest accumulations expected in the interior of Malaga, the Valencian Community, and south of Tarragona. Strong or very strong showers are also expected in western Andalusia, accompanied by storms and frequent hail.