Storm Therese Batters Tenerife, Forcing Evacuations and Power Outages

Storm Therese has put coastal infrastructure in southern Tenerife to the test, forcing Adeje City Council to trigger emergency protocols as rising seas and severe weather hit the area. High waves led to the preventive evacuation of residents in El Puertito after water entered their homes. Structural damage was also reported along the local promenade and in the El Varadero area of La Caleta, where a restaurant has been forced to close temporarily.

The storm has also caused widespread power outages. Since early Friday morning, nearly 800 households in Tijoco, La Hoya, and parts of neighboring Guía de Isora have been without electricity. Poor weather conditions have made repairs difficult, and the utility company has been unable to confirm when power will be restored, leaving many families in limbo.

To support those displaced, the El Galeón Pavilion has been turned into an emergency shelter. Managed by the Red Cross, the facility has 70 beds, 52 of which are currently occupied. Other affected residents have chosen to stay with family members. Acting Mayor Epifanio Díaz Hernández is overseeing the coordination between emergency services, noting that providing temporary housing is a standard part of the municipal emergency plan.

The storm has also caused problems further inland. Strong winds and heavy rain triggered rockfalls on the TF-82 road near Los Menores and Tijoco, and knocked down trees and utility poles in Taucho, La Quinta, and Avenida de Bruselas in Costa Adeje. In La Caleta, heavy machinery had to be brought in to clear a blocked storm drain to prevent flooding at a private home.

With the weather alert expected to remain in place until at least Sunday, local authorities are urging residents to avoid all unnecessary travel. The Local Police and 112 emergency services remain on high alert, monitoring the situation as the storm highlights the vulnerability of the region’s low-lying areas to intense Atlantic weather.