Tenerife’s Anaga Massif Paralyzed by Traffic Amid Storm Warnings
Severe traffic congestion in Tenerife’s Anaga massif during Storm Therese has reignited concerns over the management of protected natural areas and the lack of effective vehicle access control.
The management of Tenerife’s protected natural areas is under scrutiny again after traffic gridlock paralyzed the Anaga massif this Saturday. According to El Día, the situation was made worse by the impact of Storm Therese. Despite official warnings to stay off the roads, the persistent traffic jams highlight a growing disconnect between government advice and the behavior of visitors in these ecologically sensitive and high-risk areas.
Road congestion, particularly around Cruz del Carmen, has brought traffic to a standstill, directly impacting residents of local hamlets. This is not an isolated incident; it is part of an ongoing conflict over the area’s capacity, which led to neighborhood protests last March calling for tighter restrictions on vehicle access. Public concern is now focused on the apparent shortage of local police, with reports suggesting only two officers were on duty to manage a surge of vehicles during a weather alert—a situation that significantly compromises road safety.
The risks are compounded by the poor weather. Slippery roads, low visibility, and the threat of rockfalls or landslides make the traffic jams especially dangerous. If an emergency required a rapid evacuation or the deployment of rescue teams, the blocked roads would severely hinder any response. Although the Tenerife Island Council and the Canary Islands Government have issued warnings about the weather and the risk of flash floods, many visitors ignored the advice to avoid mountain areas. This ongoing influx of traffic, combined with a lack of effective access control, remains a significant, unresolved problem.