Canary Islands on alert as storm causes floods

The Spanish Meteorological Agency (AEMET) on Thursday maintained its red alert for the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands following torrential rainfall. Tenerife witnessed rainfall of up to 60 liters per square meters on Monday with AEMET predicting further showers and storms in the coming hours. Heavy rain which fell on Tenerife on Wednesday night caused over 140 different incidents, the majority of which were connected to overflowing drains, localized flooding and problems with the electricity supply. A tourist remains missing off the coast of Gran Canaria after going swimming in stormy conditions on Tuesday. No deaths or serious injuries have so far been reported, although forestry agents were needed to help escort a pair of Russian tourists to safety after they had become lost during the worst of the downpour. AEMET calculated that over 4,000 lightning bolts fell on the Canary Islands during the course of Wednesday night's storms.