Thousands Evacuated as Wildfire Rages on Spanish Island of Tenerife
TENERIFE, Canary Islands, Spain, Aug 19 (Reuters) – The wildfire that has been tearing through the north of the Spanish island of Tenerife has prompted the evacuation of thousands of people from their homes. Despite the scale of the blaze, major tourist areas have so far been spared.
According to provisional estimates from the Canary Islands emergency services, over 26,000 people have been evacuated as of Saturday afternoon, a significant increase from the 4,500 evacuated on Friday. The wildfire has now affected 11 towns on the island.
The intensity of the flames was evident as they illuminated the night sky, and on Saturday, helicopters dropped water on areas near homes where smoke was billowing into the air.
The fire, which began on Wednesday in a mountainous national park near Mount Teide, Spain’s highest peak, has been fueled by hot and dry weather conditions.
Regional leader Fernando Clavijo announced on Saturday morning that more evacuations were necessary due to the deteriorating weather, including rising temperatures and stronger winds. However, efforts to extinguish the fire from the air have been hampered by thick smoke.
A total of 5,000 hectares (12,000 acres) of land have burned so far, with a perimeter spanning 50 km (30 miles).
Tenerife Council President Rosa Davila described the fire as unprecedented for the Canary Islands. She emphasized that the priority is to protect people’s lives. Fortunately, no homes have been destroyed by the blaze, according to the fire brigade.
Medical assistance was provided to evacuees in La Victoria, a village in the northwest of the island. Residents there experienced a frightening night as ash engulfed the area. “The night before we arrived, we had a pretty bad time. Everything was burning… the roofs were full (of ash),” said Paulina Fernandez, 58.
One of the major concerns for evacuees has been the welfare of their animals. Some were forced to leave their pets behind, while others led their horses to safety, as shown in Reuters footage.
Despite the ongoing wildfire, Tenerife’s popular tourist areas remain unaffected, and the island’s two airports continue to operate normally.
The severity of wildfires in Europe this summer can be attributed to scorching heat and dry weather, including the July blaze on Spain’s La Palma island and fires in Canada. Earlier this month, blazes on Hawaii’s Maui island claimed the lives of over 110 individuals and caused extensive damage to the historic resort city of Lahaina.
Scientists point to climate change as a factor behind the increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events.
Reporting by Nacho Doce and Jessica Jones, Writing by Jessica Jones; editing by Clelia Oziel