More than 26,000 people have already fled the massive fire that has been raging on the Spanish island of Tenerife since Tuesday, according to preliminary estimates released today by the emergency services.
The information was put forward by the Canary Islands government through its page on the social network X (formerly Twitter), where it says that “preliminary estimates indicate that more than 26,000 people” have been evacuated.
Since the outbreak of the fire, authorities have already evacuated several regions in 11 municipalities in the south and north of Tenerife, Efe news agency reports.
The government added that people in need of housing are being referred to various shelters.
The fire, which has been raging since Tuesday, has already consumed an area of forest equivalent to more than 5,000 football fields (more than 5,000 hectares) and has forced the evacuation of several villages.
Civil Protection said places will continue to be evacuated today as a precaution, and advised self-protection measures to be taken.
A new reinforcement of air force and ground combat teams is planned for today and Sunday.
The air device continues to drain water and has performed more than 1,700 since the fire began.
According to Spanish authorities, the fire is far from being extinguished and the intense heat, strong winds and adverse terrain conditions have made it difficult to fight the flames, which have spread to the northern region of the island.
The President of the Government of the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands stressed that despite it being an “absolutely exceptional and hungry” fire, no house was destroyed and no one was harmed by the work of the operators.
Source: DN
