Wildfire Forces Evacuation of Thousands on Spanish Island of Tenerife

Approximately 3,000 people have been evacuated from their homes on the Spanish island of Tenerife due to a resurgent wildfire, exacerbated by unseasonably hot weather and strong winds. The fire, which originally ignited on August 15 and was brought under control on September 11, has now consumed approximately 12,273 hectares of land, making it the worst wildfire ever recorded in the Canary Islands.

Around 12,000 residents in Santa Ursula and La Orotava, located in the northeast of the island, have been displaced. The government’s Civil Protection Emergency Wildfire Plan declared a ‘Level 2’ emergency, prompting the evacuations. Firefighters are currently battling the flames, which have reignited over recent days due to high temperatures and wind.