Storm Therese leaves €33 million repair bill for damage in Tenerife
Tenerife is facing a repair bill of more than €33 million after Storm Therese caused widespread damage to roads, infrastructure, and natural spaces across the island last month.
The Cabildo has provisionally estimated total losses at €33.3 million. Island president Rosa Dávila confirmed the figures, stressing that Tenerife will apply for national emergency aid to help pay for it, following its designation as a severely affected area by the Spanish government.
Roads and countryside hardest hit
Over a third of the damage, around €12.6 million, relates to the island’s road network alone. Officials hope to recover up to 50% of these costs through state funding, although this is not guaranteed.
The island’s natural environment has also been badly affected, with losses estimated at €5.1 million. This includes damage to forest tracks, walking routes, and protected areas such as the Teide National Park.
Urgent repairs are already needed, including:
- €1.4 million for forest and agricultural tracks
- Around €1.1 million to restore damaged woodland and prevent further erosion
Local councils report widespread damage
The Cabildo is coordinating claims between central government and Tenerife’s municipalities, which have reported a combined €15.6 million in damage to local infrastructure and public facilities.
However, not all areas have submitted full reports. Some municipalities, including San Miguel and Santiago del Teide, have yet to finalise their assessments, while Puerto de la Cruz has provided estimates without full financial details, meaning the total figure could still rise.
Among the hardest-hit areas are:
- La Orotava: €4.3 million
- La Victoria: €1.5 million
- La Laguna: €1.4 million
- El Rosario: €1.2 million
- Santa Cruz: €1.2 million
Other municipalities, including La Matanza, Güímar, Arico and Santa Úrsula, have also reported substantial costs linked to damaged roads, drainage systems, collapsed walls, and street infrastructure.
Damage to the recently completed walkway on Los Cristianos seafront (Image: EDS)
State aid unlikely to cover full costs
Despite the emergency declaration, officials have warned that state funding will not cover all expenses. Under Spanish law, only certain types of emergency work qualify for co-financing.
Davila explained that repairs carried out directly by the Cabildo, such as clearing rockfalls or restoring rural tracks using in-house teams, are not eligible for funding. As a result, the island government is expected to shoulder a significant portion of the costs.
While Madrid is expected to contribute, the final amount remains unclear and is unlikely to reach around 50% of total damages.
Deadline to finalise claims
Authorities have until 27th April to submit a fully detailed assessment of all damage and formally request state assistance.
Despite the scale of destruction, officials noted that the situation could have been far worse, and recovery efforts are already underway.
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