Tenerife island wildfire prompts mass evacuation

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【Summary】A wildfire on Spain's Tenerife island has spread, leading to the evacuation of thousands of people. The fire, the most complex in the Canary Islands in 40 years, has burned through 2,600 hectares of land. The scorching heat and dry weather this summer have contributed to severe wildfires in Europe and Canada. The climate crisis is believed to be a major factor in the increase of extreme weather events. The fire has spread to the north and towards a valley with camping sites.

FutureCar Staff Aug 17, 2023 10:36 AM PT

Tenerife island wildfire prompts mass evacuation

A massive fire, described as the most complex in the Canary Islands in the last 40 years, has been raging since Wednesday. It has already burned through 2,600 hectares of land.

Fernando Clavijo, the leader of the region, expressed the difficulty of the situation in a news conference. He stated, "The night has been very tough, this is the most complex fire we've had in the Canary Islands in the last 40 years."

Severe wildfires have been occurring in Europe and western Canada due to scorching heat and dry weather this summer. Even Hawaii's Maui has experienced devastating wildfires, resulting in the loss of at least 106 lives and the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents and tourists.

Scientists attribute the increase in extreme weather events to the climate crisis, which is primarily caused by the use of fossil fuels.

Pedro Martinez, head of emergency services in Tenerife, reported that the fire has spread to the north and is approaching a valley where several camping sites are located.

While some villages have been evacuated as a precautionary measure, residents in a few others have been ordered to stay home, affecting an additional 3,500 people. The areas under confinement include a prison and a migrant reception center.

In response to the fire, authorities have deployed 17 aircraft and a combined force of 350 firefighters and military personnel. Additional waterbombing aircraft have arrived from the mainland. Access to the mountains, including the popular tourist destination Mount Teide, has been closed to prevent any incidents.

Despite the ongoing fire, Tenerife's two airports are operating normally, according to Spanish airport operator Aena.

The risk of wildfires in the Canary Islands was heightened by a recent heatwave that left many areas extremely dry. This summer has seen a series of forest fires on the islands of Gran Canaria and La Palma, which are part of the Canary Islands archipelago.