TENERIFE: Further evacuations were carried out from residences on the Spanish island of Tenerife as an uncontrolled wildfire persisted in the island’s north.
The fire ignited on Wednesday within a mountainous national park encompassing the Mount Teide volcano — the highest peak in Spain. This transpired amidst hot and arid weather conditions.
Fernando Clavijo, the regional leader, communicated late yesterday that approximately 5,000 hectares had been affected, spanning a perimeter of 50 km, with about 7,000 individuals evacuated or under confinement in their residences.
Earlier in the week, Clavijo characterized the fire as the most intricate that the Canary Islands have confronted in four decades. This complexity can be attributed to a combination of scorching, dry, and gusty conditions, as well as challenging topography.
Due to the exacerbation of weather conditions overnight, additional evacuations were mandated this morning. Manuel Miranda, regional councillor for Territorial Policy, Territorial Cohesion, and Water, remarked, “The weather has changed and we have had to evacuate towns in the north of Tenerife, specifically five areas.” He elaborated that temperatures had escalated overnight, humidity had decreased, and winds had intensified.
Miranda underscored the necessity of further evacuations due to the fire’s danger and proximity. He stressed that authorities have so far succeeded in preventing any loss of life, emphasizing that this remains their primary objective.
Remarkably, the island’s prominent tourist locales have remained unaffected by the blaze, and both of its airports have continued normal operations.
The prevailing scorching heat and dry conditions this summer have significantly contributed to unusually intense wildfires in Europe and Canada. Earlier this month, blazes on Hawaii’s Maui island claimed over 110 lives and caused extensive destruction to the historic resort city of Lahaina.
Scientists assert that climate change has amplified the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events.
