UPDATE: |Lanzarote flooding horror shown in terrifying footage as state of emergency declared News

Torrential rain saw homes and cars swamped by murky brown floodwater

Horror footage showed the moment a holiday hotspot packed with British tourists was flooded by heavy rain during a devastating two-hour deluge.

A state of emergency was declared by local officials in Lanzarote on Saturday (April 12) after torrential rain saw homes and cars swamped by floodwater.

Cars were left abandoned in the streets after roads were turned into deep and dangerous flowing rivers, the Mirror reports.

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The storm suddenly broke out on Saturday afternoon. Residents in Arrecife, on the island’s south coast, were hit by the smell of raw sewage after flooding also affected the drainage system.

It is unclear how long it will take to fix, according to authorities. A staggering 60 litres of water fell per square metre in the brief period in the some of the heavy rain spots – which is more than a month’s worth of the average rainfall in the UK.

The Canary Islands government declared a pre-alert for rain in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventure until 7am on Sunday morning. The public were urged to avoid all unnecessary travel.

The UK Foreign Office has also issued a new warning for British holidaymakers planning to travel to Spain. Some services across the island have been affected with some hotels currently without power and some roads affected by mud.

Furthermore, the towns of Guatiza, Tahiche, Costa Teguise and Nazaret were all badly hit by the floodwater as rivers burst their banks after being overwhelmed by the deluge.

Video footage showed bins floating down the street with cars and pavements fully submerged on the popular holiday island.

The huge downpour came just days after Storm Oliver passed over Lanzarote, prompting several flights to the popular British hotspot to be cancelled or diverted on Thursday due to dangerous flying conditions.

Two flights from Gatwick, two from Manchester, two from Bristol and one each from Dublin, Birmingham, Bournemouth and Stansted were all diverted.

The island, which is popular for many Brits, faces a state of emergency, and holidaymakers are being urged to postpone their travel, or seek alternative accommodation and flights.

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