Santa Cruz de Tenerife 10 Apr. (Press Europa) –
The Canary Islands Government’s Coordination and Emergency Centre, Cecos 112, has recorded a total of 147 incidents due to the passage of the ‘Olivier’ storm across the Islands, with 94 incidents in the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and 53 in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria by midday, according to the regional department during a balance press briefing on Thursday.
Furthermore, issues reported have primarily involved sewage problems, water accumulation in residences and urban roads, slips on secondary roads, neighbourhood pathways and forest trails, as well as electrical faults, which did not affect the power supply. In terms of non-material damages, there have been falls and slippery conditions on public thoroughfares, resulting in minor injuries.
The landslips occurred in a widespread manner, except for Fuerteventura and Lanzarote. In this context, there were interruptions on four to five roads in Gran Canaria impacted by this issue, while in Tenerife, there was an accident on the TF-5 road near Los Realejos, where a stone struck a vehicle, leaving two individuals with minor injuries.
The Deputy Minister of Emergencies and Water, Marcos Lorenzo, commended the coordination that followed the activation of various alerts, as well as the collaboration of the public. In this regard, the director of the Emergency and Security Coordination Centre (Cecos 112), Moisés Sánchez, emphasised the increase in responsible calls to the service, which reached 80% of the total.
Sánchez noted that with the activation of alerts due to the ‘Olivier’ storm, the activity at the Emergency and Security Coordination Centre rose by 10% compared to a regular day. Therefore, the augmentation of services has been prioritised based on forecasts, with increased staffing to manage this emergency effectively.
Risk of Landslips
The General Directorate of Emergencies on Wednesday, in anticipation of heavy rainfall expected from the west and south, with intense showers of over 30 litres per hour and cumulative rainfall of 50-60 litres over 12 hours in the eastern islands, and even 70 litres in La Palma, activated the alert for adverse weather phenomena.
Additionally, a preventive phase of the flood plan, known as Peinca, has been activated, which includes actions carried out on Wednesday, to protect areas such as Barranco beds, channels, and other identified flood-prone areas across all islands, aiming to prevent debris flow and potential harm to vehicles or individuals.
In a review of the actions undertaken, the Head of Civil Protection and Emergency Services, Montse Román, noted that the storm alert had already concluded, as had the warning issued for predicted winds of 70 km/hour across the archipelago, which at one point peaked at over 100 kilometres per hour on Wednesday.
“We anticipate an episode of coastal phenomena that is likely to conclude today,” he stated.
Román indicated that in this emergency, the effects caused by the previous storm ‘Nuria’ last week were taken into account, as there were concerns that strong winds could destabilise infrastructure. “This was the worry we expressed, of potential landslips, and it is what we have witnessed, likely continuing in the coming days.”
Forecasts
Consequently, local authorities and relevant bodies have been encouraged to assess the pathways and infrastructure where outdoor activities are expected to take place this weekend, prioritising public safety.
Román recalled that locally intense showers could still occur, particularly in more rugged islands, especially on the western and southern slopes of Gran Canaria and Tenerife, although light rainfall may be experienced anywhere across the islands, albeit at reduced intensities compared to recent days. “It cannot be ruled out that impacts may be significant locally, and with water accumulation, any additional rainfall could lead to effects,” he remarked.
The head of Civil Protection and Emergency Services also pointed out that the delayed arrival of the Olivier storm to the islands “helped” to limit the number of incidents, with heavy rains occurring during the night, a time when the population is typically less mobile. Additionally, records showed that the most convective clouds were concentrated over the Anaga-Agaete channel during much of the night and the northern region of the archipelago, thus the impact on land was mitigated compared to the sea.
