Spanish island La Palma hit by storm-triggered power blackout

A powerful storm struck La Palma in Spain's Canary Islands archipelago on Monday, leaving large areas without power as heavy rainfall and strong winds swept across the island. Local government officials reported rainfall intensities reaching 30 litres per square metre per hour during the height of the storm.

In response to the deteriorating weather conditions, regional authorities issued a top-tier rainfall alert effective from midnight Monday. The alert signalled the severity of the meteorological threat posed to the island's infrastructure and residents.

To manage the crisis, local officials activated PLATECA, the emergency response plan designed to coordinate public services during natural disasters. The activation enabled coordinated action across multiple agencies to address power outages, ensure public safety, and maintain essential services throughout the affected areas.

The severe weather system also impacted neighbouring Tenerife, where snowfall blanketed portions of the island over the weekend, underscoring the intensity of the weather system affecting the Canary Islands region.