The regional government in the Canary Islands has issued a "Level II" emergency warning because of the torrential rain that has fallen across the islands today, with particularly heavy downpours in Tenerife.

The heavy rain has flooded houses, offices, shops and roads, leaving many main roads closed to traffic altogether and it has caused a number of power cuts, leaving over 25,000 people, mainly in Tenerife, without any electricity tonight.

The regional education ministry has closed schools across the islands tomorrow as the government's emergency plan comes into operation.

More heavy downpours are expected tomorrow across the whole archipelago, affecting Lanzarote and Fuerteventura as well.

The emergency services in Santa Cruz de Tenerife had to deal with over 70 separate incidents today as a result of the extreme weather.