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Although the flames have so far evaded the island’s most well-known tourist attractions, a wildfire raging in the north of the Spanish island of Tenerife forced thousands more residents to evacuate their homes on Saturday.
According to early estimates from the Canary Islands emergency services, more than 26,000 people had been evacuated by Saturday afternoon, a huge increase from 4,500 on Friday. Currently, 11 municipalities are impacted.
Overnight, fierce flames lit up the night sky, and on Saturday, it was observed that helicopters were spraying water on neighborhoods near residences where smoke was billowing into the air.
Under hot and dry conditions, a fire started on Wednesday in a hilly national park surrounding Spain’s highest peak, the Mount Teide volcano.
According to regional head Fernando Clavijo, more evacuations were required on Saturday morning as a result of the weather getting worse overnight, including an increase in temperatures and higher gusts.
He claimed that efforts to put out the airborne fire were being hampered by dense smoke. With a 50 kilometer radius, around 5,000 hectares (12,000 acres) have burnt thus far (30 miles).
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Residents Evacuated, Properties Spared
Rosa Davila, the president of the Tenerife Council, told reporters that the fire was of a magnitude that had never been observed in the Canary Islands.
She stated that “saving people’s lives” was the top priority.
She said, quoting the fire department, that thus far, no properties have been destroyed by the fire.
Several evacuated individuals were receiving medical assistance in La Victoria, which is located in the northwest of the island.
Several evacuees were really worried about their pets. Reuters video showed some being forced to abandon their horses at home while others were seen taking their animals to safety.
Popular tourist destinations on the island have so far not been impacted, and both of its airports are working properly.
This summer’s scorching heat and dry conditions have contributed to extremely devastating wildfires in Canada, Europe, and Spain’s La Palma island in July. Fires earlier this year on the Hawaiian island of Maui
Extreme weather events are becoming more common and more intense, according to scientists.
Read Next: Flames Engulf Northern Tenerife as Wildfire Spreads Across the Island
Source: Reuters
