Hundreds of British tourists have found themselves trapped in Tenerife as Hurricane Melissa unleashes chaos across the Canary Islands, forcing widespread flight cancellations and extending holiday stays indefinitely.
The violent storm system has battered the popular holiday destination with torrential rain and powerful winds, creating dangerous conditions that have grounded all air travel from Tenerife South airport. Desperate travellers have been left scrambling for accommodation as their return flights to the UK face repeated delays.
Airport Shutdown Causes Travel Nightmare
Tenerife South airport, the main gateway for British tourists visiting the island, has been forced to cancel all outgoing flights as Hurricane Melissa continues to intensify. Airport authorities have confirmed that safety concerns make take-offs impossible in the current conditions.
One distressed holidaymaker shared: "We were due to fly back to Manchester yesterday but now we're stuck here with no clear idea when we can leave. Hotels are filling up fast and we're having to pay extra nights out of our own pockets."
Extended Weather Warnings Across Archipelago
The Spanish meteorological agency AEMET has issued severe weather alerts not just for Tenerife but for all eight Canary Islands. Meteorologists warn that the hurricane shows no signs of abating, with the adverse conditions expected to persist throughout the coming days.
Tour operators are facing mounting pressure from stranded customers, with many companies unable to provide concrete information about when normal flight schedules might resume. The Foreign Office has updated its travel advice for the region, urging British nationals to follow local authority guidance.
Accommodation Crisis Develops
As the flight disruptions enter their second day, available hotel rooms are becoming increasingly scarce. Many tourists who had checked out of their original accommodation are now facing additional expenses for unexpected extended stays.
Local authorities are working with tour operators to establish emergency accommodation protocols, but the sudden influx of stranded travellers has stretched resources thin across the island's main tourist areas.
Weather experts suggest that Hurricane Melissa represents one of the most significant storm systems to hit the Canary Islands during peak tourist season in recent years, with recovery efforts likely to take several days even after the weather improves.
