Lanzarote floods ruin Brits’ holidays as state of emergency declared | Europe | Travel

Just days after the Canary Islands were battered by Storm Oliver, British holidaymakers in Lanzarote are still grappling with the aftermath.

A state of emergency was declared on the island on Saturday, April 12, following flash floods that inundated homes and tourist hotspots. This prompted the UK Foreign Office to issue a travel warning on Sunday for those planning trips to areas such as Costa Teguise, San Bartolomé, and Arrecife. For those already on holiday, it’s been far from the idyllic break they had envisioned.

Holidaymaker and TikTok user Lisa Marie shared a video of the grim conditions, attracting views from 1.2 million users. “POV [point of view] – You go to Lanzarote for the weather,” she captioned her post, adding: “Costa Teguise, 12/04/2025.”

Her clip shows murky water rushing down a street near the seafront, with a voice in a Scottish accent exclaiming: “No way, are you kidding me?” The footage also reveals a usually vibrant nightlife area devastated by the deluge.

One sympathetic TikTok user commented: “Sorry to anyone having a bad holiday that’s so unfair for you,” Another added: “Oh no! This is just awful. You pay so much for holidays.” Lisa Marie later noted: “It had passed after a few hours in fairness but some businesses still feeling the effects of a loss of earnings and damage done.”

Elsewhere, the Morans family, who are also holidaying in Lanzarote, captured the gloomy scene outside their hotel. Also taking to TikTok, they shared: “Not our regular content, but on 12th April 2025 there has been a bad flood in Costa Tequise, Lanzarote and [this is] just to show our hotel.”

Hailing from Devon where they run a restaurant, the Morans detailed the extensive flooding that ravaged not just outdoor areas but also infiltrated the on-site amenities. “Everywhere flooded, including the food hall,” they said in their clip. “Have had no running water for a day so far. We really feel for the locals here as the damage is bad. The hotel staff have tried so hard to do what they can, they must be exhausted.”

Injecting humour into their misfortune, the Morans’ video featured Jess Glynne’s ‘Hold My Hand’, known from Jet2 adverts, perhaps a nod to their attempt to stay upbeat despite the turbulent conditions. The family also showcased the pool area of their accommodation which was submerged in rainwater, making it impossible to distinguish the pool from its surroundings.

Their sarcastic comment, “Can’t wait to go swimming on holiday,” accompanied the viral video, which has amassed over two million views, showcasing their ironic take on the expected holiday experience.

Their post drew attention from the TikTok community, with one user responding: “It’s refreshing to read your caption and it be so nice and considerate. Usually you see these stuff with people moaning about how it’s ruined their holiday and not caring about anything else.”

A second individual quipped: “Going in two weeks. Can’t wait to go to a flooded mess.” Meanwhile, a third person shared their family’s ordeal: “My mum and my sister literally flew to Lanzarote today and their hotel is flooded so loads of people were booking new hotels or flights back and they almost flew back but managed to get a hotel. Would be such a shame if they didn’t even get to go on their holiday.”

In an update to its travel advice page on gov.uk, the Foreign Office said: “Heavy rainfall and flooding in Lanzarote occurred earlier today (13 April 2025) with Costa Teguise, San Bartolomé, and Arrecife particularly affected. Services across the island are affected.

“Some hotels are currently without power. Some roads are currently affected by mud. If you are in Lanzarote or travelling to Lanzarote, follow the advice of the local authorities and monitor local weather updates.”

Meanwhile, Enrique Espinosa, head of emergency services for the Lanzarote government, told local news service, RTVE news 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.”