emergencies
Forest fire rages on Tenerife – thousands of people evacuated
Trees burn in the forest of Tenerife. photo
© Europa Press/EUROPA PRESS/dpa
A cloud of smoke rises for kilometers above Tenerife. Those responsible on the popular holiday island are talking about one of the worst fires in decades.
The Canary Island popular with holidaymakers Tenerife is battling one of the most violent forest fires in recent history. The flames have so far covered an area of around 2,600 hectares (26 square kilometers), according to local authorities.
About 4,000 people in six communities in the north-east of the island have been brought to safety, according to media reports. Canary Islands Prime Minister Fernando Clavijo said it was probably one of the worst forest fires in Tenerife in 40 years.
According to the travel company Tui, there are currently more than 10,000 tourists on Tenerife across the group – not just from Germany. So far there have been no restrictions on trips to the island. Tenerife’s travel authority also stressed that the island’s main tourist areas and cities were far from the fire. It was said that normality prevailed there.
Firefighting is difficult
Fighting the fire is difficult because of the inaccessible area, Clavijo said. According to civil protection, around 350 firefighters and helpers are on duty, supported by 17 fire-fighting aircraft. Soldiers from the military emergency aid unit UME were also assigned to fight the flames. The cause of the fire that broke out on Tuesday between the communities of Arafo and Candelaria was not initially clear. It is now raging on several fronts within a radius of about 32 kilometers. So far it’s out of control.
“We have not seen anything like this on the archipelago,” said meteorologist Victoria Palma, who advises the island’s government, with a view to the properties of the fire. This developed a cloud of smoke up to six kilometers high and produced its own meteorological conditions. Even during the night, the intensity of the flames did not decrease. These can already be seen from afar.
Coordinator speaks of a “hungry” fire
In addition, the fire transports glowing remains of vegetation, which in turn triggers new fires. According to local media, the emergency aid coordinator for the neighboring island of Gran Canaria, Federico Grillo, spoke of a “hungry” fire that was very difficult to fight. For the municipalities of Güímar, Arafo, Candelaria and El Rosario, the Tenerife government warned of air pollution from gases and small particles released by burning plants and other material. The Red Cross sets up emergency shelters in gymnasiums. Several thousand people in less endangered places were also asked not to leave their homes.
On the Canary Islands, located in the Atlantic off the coast of West Africa, forest fires occur more frequently, especially in summer. Tenerife is the largest island of the archipelago, which is one of the most important holiday destinations in Spain. It has an area of around 2035 square kilometers, around 930,000 inhabitants and is known, among other things, for the more than 3700 meter high volcano Teide, the highest mountain in Spain.