Tenerife wildfire continues to spread

A wildfire, that started in the early hours of Wednesday morning in the north-east of the popular holiday island of Tenerife, remained unabated on Thursday after burning 1,800 hectares of land, according to emergency services in the Canary Islands, reported Xinhua.

The Canary Islands' President Fernando Clavijo told reporters the fire had a perimeter of 22 km, after dry conditions and strong winds helped its rapid spread. The hilly terrain had meant that firefighters had been unable to access several areas affected by the fire.

It is still unclear what started the wildfire. So far, the flames have forced several homes in the area being evacuated.

Spanish TV network RTVE reported on Thursday that some flames had reached the outskirts of El Orotava, a town with around 17,500 inhabitants. Around 150 people have been evacuated, although the damage to property was not yet known.

A total of 17 aircraft and helicopters are currently helping to combat the flames, along with around 270 firefighters.

According to latest data from the European Forest Fire Information System, wildfires have burned 81,058 hectares in Spain in 2023. Most of the country remains on a level of "extreme" alert for further wildfires due to continued hot and dry weather affecting the region.