Canary Islands Storm Therese Damage Bill Nears €200 Million

The 'Storm of the Decade' Leaves a €186.8 Million Bill

The Canary Islands are still counting the cost of Storm Therese, which struck the archipelago during the second half of March and has been described by officials as the "storm of the decade". The total damage bill now stands at approximately €186.8 million, with the vast majority — €185.8 million — attributed to infrastructure damage across the islands.

Those figures remain subject to ongoing verification as local authorities complete their full damage assessments, meaning the final total could yet rise.

Widespread Flooding, Landslides and Destruction

Storm Therese brought extensive flooding, landslides and widespread destruction across the Canary Islands, affecting roads, public buildings and critical infrastructure throughout the region. The scale of the damage disrupted daily life for residents and caused significant disruption to the islands' economies, which are heavily dependent on tourism and transport links.

The storm's severity prompted an emergency response from both the regional and central Spanish governments, with Minister Ángel Víctor Torres and Government Delegate Anselmo Pestana actively coordinating the recovery strategy.

The Government Recovery Package

Spain's central government has approved a recovery plan structured to ease the financial burden on local councils, which would otherwise struggle to fund repairs of this scale. The key terms:

• Central authorities will provide 85% of advancement funds — meaning councils receive the majority of the money upfront rather than having to fund repairs themselves and claim reimbursement later
• Central authorities will also cover half of all repair expenses
• Local councils bear responsibility for the remaining portion of costs
• Councils have been given permission to use Financially Sustainable Investments from 2024 toward their share of the costs

Timeline for Recovery Funding

The recovery process follows a structured timetable:

1. Municipal authorities have one month to submit comprehensive damage reports
2. Central government will then review and approve funding
3. Local councils will have a further month to propose specific repair initiatives

This phased approach is designed to ensure funds are directed to verified, prioritised repairs rather than released in an uncoordinated rush.

Support Beyond Infrastructure

The assistance package extends well beyond repairing roads and buildings. Additional measures include:

• Agricultural aid — targeted support for farmers and producers whose livelihoods were hit by the storm
• Tax relief — for individuals and businesses affected
• Employment support — to help workers in sectors disrupted by the damage
• Social security provisions — for those left in difficult circumstances as a result of the storm

What This Means for Residents and Expats

For the large communities of British, German, Scandinavian and other expat residents across Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and the other islands, Storm Therese will have been a reminder of just how exposed the Canary Islands can be to severe weather events despite their reputation for year-round sunshine.

The recovery funding package should ensure that the most critical infrastructure — roads, public buildings, utilities — is repaired within a reasonable timeframe. However, works of this scale inevitably take time, and residents in the most affected areas should expect some disruption to continue in the weeks and months ahead.

This article is based on reporting from The Olive Press, published April 25, 2026. Damage figures remain subject to verification.