Tenerife Road Closure Extended Following Storm Damage as Local Council Seeks Funding
A road closure in Los Silos, Tenerife, following Storm Therese has left 350 residents isolated for over a month, prompting local officials to seek regional financial aid for the 200,000-euro repair project.
Transport links in the mid-altitude areas of northern Tenerife are under pressure again following Storm Therese. According to El Día, the road connecting Tierra del Trigo to the center of Los Silos will remain closed for at least another month, extending the travel difficulties that 350 residents have faced since late March.
This closure highlights the vulnerability of secondary roads in environmentally sensitive areas. Because the road sits within the Interián Scientific Interest Site, repair work must be carefully managed to protect the local ecology, which limits the options available to local authorities. The current emergency project, costing 100,000 euros, focuses on stabilizing masonry walls damaged by landslides and the overflowing La Guardia ravine.
Los Silos Mayor, Carmen Luz Baso Lorenzo, argues that the issue is bigger than just one municipality. Although the City Council owns the road, it is a vital route for tourism workers and school transport, which must now be diverted through El Tanque and Garachico. The mayor believes this situation proves that regional authorities need to play a larger role in managing damage caused by extreme weather.
The City Council has asked the Ministry of Territorial Policy to cover half of the repair costs. However, the storm caused a total of 200,000 euros in damage—a significant amount for a town with an annual budget of just over seven million euros. Without specific financial support from the Canary Islands Government or the Cabildo of Tenerife, the local council must cover the remaining costs, placing a heavy strain on its finances.