Lanzarote Floods: Key Travel Updates After Storm Olivier Wreaks Havoc

• by Arlen Fitzpatrick
• 0 Comments

After the Flood: Lanzarote Grapples with Storm Olivier's Aftermath

Sudden, torrential downpours from Storm Olivier turned Lanzarote upside down this week. It wasn’t just a bit of rain, but hours of unrelenting storms that left parts of the island — especially Costa Teguise, San Bartolomé, and Arrecife — looking more like rivers than roads. Tourists expecting lazy beach days instead found themselves wading through mud and checking for power in their hotel rooms.

The local government moved fast, declaring a state of emergency almost as soon as the first roads went under. Streets that usually buzz with rental cars and mopeds became impassable, covered with thick mud and debris. If you were trying to drive anywhere, it was next to impossible. Several hotels — the heart of Lanzarote’s tourism industry — went dark for hours, with guests relying on candlelight and patience. And it’s not just about getting to the pool; imagine your holiday suddenly interrupted by a blackout and a chorus of emergency sirens outside.

Despite all the chaos, the island’s main lifeline — Lanzarote Airport — worked hard to keep flights running. Arrivals and departures stuck to schedule, a rare bright spot as elsewhere, postcards and plans were washed out. The same storm clouds skimmed past neighboring Canary Islands like Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and Fuerteventura, but those spots dodged the worst of it. Tourists on those islands heard thunder, but their beaches didn’t flood.

Travelers Caught Between Queries and Cancellation Policies

So what’s a traveler supposed to do? The UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said there’s no official travel warning, so package holidays and flights weren’t automatically cancelled. Instead, the FCO encouraged everyone to keep an eye on weather updates and listen to advice from local authorities. If you booked a holiday and are thinking about cancelling, your best bet is to contact your provider directly. But here’s the catch: without an official warning, many companies aren’t offering free refunds. It’s a frustrating situation — everything’s technically running, but the picturesque island many expected is temporarily waterlogged.

Insurance throws another curveball. Some policies cover “natural disasters,” but the fine print matters. If you’ve got trip protection, check with your insurer — you might be able to claim on accommodation or flights affected by the Lanzarote floods. However, every policy is different, and the state of emergency has already ended. The island is picking itself up fast, and so far, no injuries have been reported, which is a huge relief given the scale of the flooding.

If you’re on the island now, or headed there soon, local councils have been quick to clean up. Power is coming back, mud is being cleared, and public services are reopening by the hour. The State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) now expects just occasional light rain — barely a drizzle compared to what hit earlier this week. Life in Lanzarote is nudging back to normal, but the soggy memories of Storm Olivier won’t fade in a hurry.

• Pack for sudden weather changes — this is no time for just sunhats and sunglasses.
• Monitor local updates, as recovery work may cause temporary road closures.
• If you’re unsure, call ahead to your hotel for up-to-date information about facilities and services.
• Double-check your travel insurance to see what is and isn't covered when nature strikes.

Lanzarote remains one of the Canary Islands’ gems, but this week’s flooding shows that even paradise has its unpredictable moments.