British tourists to Gran Canariahave been told to stay indoors as horror floods hit the top Spanish holiday island. Shocking images on social media show rivers of dirt and mud covering the streets, with cars washed into the sea.

       As torrential rain battered the popular Canary Island, its streets transformed into raging rivers as water levels rose. One terrifying video showed a vehicle being swept into the Atlantic at Playa Salinetas Beach, while another showed a woman being rescued from a submerged car and dragged to safety. On Monday (March 3), Aemet, Spain’s national weather agency, issued a red alert across the island, with the dangerous weather set to continue this week.

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       A red warning is the highest level of alert and is only issued when there is “a serious risk” to life.

       While some cars were swept out to sea, others were dragged into the island’s Las Bachilleras ravine, or totally destroyed by the aggressive brown water rivers that rushed down the the streets.

       In Tenerife, meanwhile, floodwaters trapped at least 80 people inside a supermarket, who were unable to reach their vehicles due to high water levels in the car park, local media reported. Emergency services were sent to pump water out of the car park to free them.

       Spanish authorities have advised residents and tourists to avoid unnecessary travel and to remain alert in flood-prone areas.

       The severe rainfall has hit during the island’s carnival celebrations, forcing many events to be cancelled or postponed.

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       The red alert comes after authorities issued a state of “pre-alert” across the archipelago on Saturday (March 1) after torrential rain hit over the weekend.

       Aemet has also warned that there is a possibility that thunderstorms could also hit the island.

       On the mainland in Valencia - which is still recovering from devastating floods that killed 223 people with at least 31 still missing last October - a red alert has also been issued with schools closed across the region as a safety precaution. Residents have been advised to seek higher ground until the weather passes, National World reported.

       However, authorities have said that conditions will improve by Wednesday and no further weather warnings will be in place.