Tenerife has entered a phase of maximum emergency response after the worsening impact of Storm Therese, prompting island authorities to elevate the situation to Emergency Level 2 and formally request the intervention of Spain’s Military Emergency Unit (UME). The escalation follows the declaration of a red-level weather alert and reflects the scale of flooding, landslides and infrastructure disruption already affecting parts of the island.
Emergency upgraded amid red weather warning
At 8:39 p.m. on Tuesday, the management team of the Island Emergency Plan (PEIN) formally declared an emergency situation across the entire island. The decision was taken after the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) issued a red alert (extraordinary danger) warning of torrential rainfall capable of producing up to 60 millimetres in a single hour, with the potential for even higher accumulations in certain areas.
Under this scenario, the Island Council activated the highest level of civil protection protocols under both the Special Emergency Plan for Adverse Weather Conditions (PEFMA) and the Canary Islands Civil Protection framework (PEINCA). The move signals a transition from precautionary monitoring to full-scale crisis management.
Regional coordination and military reinforcement
Given the magnitude of the situation and the limitations of island-level resources under sustained extreme conditions, Tenerife’s emergency management authority has requested that the Directorate-General for Emergencies of the Canary Islands Government assume regional coordination. This step enables broader mobilisation of resources across the archipelago and facilitates inter-island logistical support.
A central component of the resolution is the formal request for deployment of the Military Emergency Unit (UME). The UME is specialised in large-scale disaster response and is expected to reinforce rescue operations, evacuation assistance and logistical coordination in the most severely affected zones.
Particular concern has been expressed for:
- The metropolitan area, where drainage systems are under intense pressure.
- The north of the island, where saturated soils and surface runoff significantly increase the risk of landslides and flash flooding.
Authorities emphasised that the current flooding and terrain instability pose a direct risk to public safety, justifying the activation of national-level emergency support.
Immediate legal effect and mobilisation of resources
The official resolution, signed by the Director of the PEIN Plan, entered into force immediately. This legal adjustment authorises the mobilisation of all available human and material resources at island, regional and state level.
Officials have described Storm Therese as potentially one of the most severe weather events to affect Tenerife in the past decade, citing both rainfall intensity and the speed at which conditions deteriorated.
Public safety measures and ES-Alert notifications
Authorities continue to urge residents to remain indoors and avoid unnecessary travel, particularly in high-risk areas. The ES-Alert system has already transmitted emergency notifications directly to mobile phones, reinforcing confinement recommendations and ensuring that residents receive real-time updates.
Emergency services remain on high alert as rainfall persists, and coordination efforts are ongoing to stabilise critical areas and prevent further damage.
