A major wildfire on the Spanish island of Tenerife has caused a number of villages to be evacuated.
The natural disaster began soon after the Canary Islands were hit by a heatwave that left areas dry and susceptible to the risk of wildfires.
Since starting on the evening of Tuesday August 15, the fire has spread over about 800 hectares and the authorities have been trying their hardest to deal with it. Aside from the main blaze, secondary fires have begun breaking out, putting pressure on frontline responders.
Here is a look at the towns that have been affected by the wildfires as well as what the authorities are saying about tourists visiting the island.
Which towns have been affected by the wildfires in Tenerife?
The main blaze has been spreading through the ravines and woodland areas of the Candelaria and Arafo areas.
Thus far, five villages have been evacuated by the authorities. These are:
- Arrate
- Chivisaya
- Media Montana
- Ajafona
- Las Lagunetas
Talking about the wildfire during an evening news conference, the region’s leader, Fernando Clavijo, said: “The fire is out of control … the outlook is not positive. Our goal for tonight is defensive, so that the fire does not continue its advance. We will carry out operations to protect residents’ property.”
The authorities have deployed 14 aircraft and 250 firefighters and military personnel so far.
What are the authorities saying about tourists visiting?
Arrivals and departures at Tenerife’s South and North airports have been continuing without any disruptions.
Tourists and residents have been warned that the blaze is “out of control”.
While the officials haven’t officially asked the tourists to stop visiting, it is generally not advised to visit places that are suffering from wildfires as it means there are more people for the authorities to try to protect and fewer vital resources available for local communities.
